
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 


> 


Shelf : 


/A3<^ ^ 


UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 


Twrrtr* 




t f 







3f’ ‘ ■ v ^ . • 

■ ■' ■ i.. ■ i/16|f; r,'i.. 

^ 'rO • 

V f' * “VV • 



iM 

^V^Ca..-: ^ , 

WL' ’ * ' » 4 - 


.•■ V ‘ 


•^'v ..to^V 


V '•..< . Vft 


V ^ ^ — • V * ^ • 

Z-'/ X - ^ ^-■ 

c;/^' ’j - * • .- . '* 

gHi 


■ > , 




V' 


.V r 


. « 


V I 


' .>. 



. ' ', V ‘ 








■ v-. 

I » ‘ 'j ’ ^ 

-'■ ' fe-’s 

•'sfe 


4 I 






I t 


^ ' f k. . y 




- * . , V . ^ t.v. *• . » • 


. • wr *9 5. • ■<’ '■ . .• . ' > 1 

• ' V ’[ ' * y _ -', t ■ • ^ I 

I • < . • ,;i'.- j-:- -■■v.\; •; 

.■ " ■ • •' ■ ' .. ' ' ■ -Iv'n- ffiT'lwH 

• ‘ • * V • - *1]-' ■*[ k^i* , ’ A aE^ 


I s ' 


'■'<M'' .■V:; ::...<«;K '■ Slf^v' ' 

' ' ft'' ' ' ''''' 

V' ' f- .; ■ •^'-■'Sj’v t •■' •" .■‘■* ' 

^ * ' ■ ■ ' 1 ' ' ' * 1 ' ' ' ' ' ^ . 


•tf 


\: '■ 
^ 


s * 


{ 

' . ic' ■ ir '"■ ' 

V V J ' '•T»>''. ■ r* ? * * k ■ . ’ '• 

. ^ -Nr;. .-• ^ >. Vj^ 

': •.. ■‘■‘Z ■' ■-■■•S''' ' '■■' ■•■■Y<A 


I '»■. • y -^ • *• V 

., ' f'l'' 


. •• rV!' 

v’ .J 


* * ►>:- rRi . /• > 

1,4^ ,■,- >.- - • - 



, i x I • ‘ • *• ' '• ■ ^ =v; ' ■^■’, -.'-"i l 

' ' i, • • • . ' V * - / I ' « ’• *ul'- / I T 

' ••:■, ; • ■■-• :vv ■ ■•■^fe.-' 


V', 


■ ‘ -" A ■ '■■ i^‘^X ■■ ' • ; ' : •■ .'V ' "'s',.;- 

■’ ' •' •■4,' •. L y ' ' *’ • ‘ ■ %, • ' *w--| . f ^ f ,s 

"■• ’ ?^''.■t• ■ ■ • ■ ■ ■ , - ■ ■' ks, '• '• ,. 




j^^**»*' *’ * - K 7^ JfaJW /• 

I^y'wA ■ 

S * li ^ % * 


. •* , vy . i ; ;.•; 

'.1 ' *5> t # ' 

iS\ -■• f . *'^'‘ V * . i ’ ■' • 

4V ^ f , ♦ • t 

. 4 ^ ' § 

•*» V 







> . 


I 

^ 4 


f 




•W 


4 


^ / 
k. < . 


y / 




*■ * . '. 






a ' .A 






J i*l’' '■ 














:. -4 ’ 


1 ‘ 


•1. /. 


I . 

r ; 




■■ / 




•• ■•> ''. 

! 




'M •.(•* 


'J'A 


^ • 


t • 


■ ( 


• k • 


s« 

J 






• .* 'V-. 

S>V ' , ■ , 

r 


,« ^ 


I f 


.1 ., 

, 


. V 


fc-/ *'1 ' 

^4 


k',*, ', > - 

- 1 -.' . • . V 

V - . ■ •■ 


•*, 


t : > 


>; 


/ 


'■.. -f s- 

' ''■ A 

1?- 


• j 


t. 



■ 




» 

» ^ 


• / * ' i'' ' - v’ 


■>t 


vV- 


f -A ■ “>4 ■ 

, '■*• N • 

’S' • ■ *’■> 


'C-' 






• * 

1 J * 






1 


u . • 

.Vi** .- 

't 





•4 

5 




•r:-. • ‘ 


> « 


X 


* « 


- s 





t- ■ 


.'▼ S I 




P'< 


* P 


4* • ^ 




r* 


» •' « 


jt ,.. • «' 1 




■h' 



U'- 


m. 



’6 


: 

'. ^v: ^ 

' I 


iffi'#®?'' m 

yfA •' ' ‘V ' ■': ♦■ ', .'- ■ .S,*? 

■'V ' \ >'V-’ ^ 


w&\m- . 


• A 




.X / .^' ; . 




< ♦ 


t , 

J-:? 


— V.; 


I ' 




. . I 1 • 

: ' K' • ‘ 

-V o •'■. 


♦ ■ ’I 


« :>. 


•A 




. < 


.1 .4. 


,'N 


•y,* . 

V 


. / 


,- ■ ■ ^ . V 


4 , - 




'•'•• xK . 


' ■ ' i» 


;• ’ ' ■- : ;*'7 

^ I I ) if 

. '--."V'-Ai 


* . 4'."V: 


\ A 

'i * 




■' •<. '■/ j V ' 

'>r 5 -.- *• ‘ 

J «" j / 4 • '1 . » ^ . • • • • 

A;. . •. ^ . 

• V . . ;i',‘ 


’ ' *> 
4 , 


' <!v- 


I ■ 

' i 


!r': 


• ' i' 

,•'■ >SA 

J. 


\f 


• 

« - 


v«v 


V-'A- ■ ■•- 

i «■ .t 


.< ’ -i 

■■ vU“ 


I . •• 


A, 







w ^ • I I -J 

<A'‘ “ V. • 

iht-, •',,•* •' ' 

■ .'V, ■?•:■“- 

V..- /, V'. 


' • ♦ 
» . 




,J VI J'V»* 

• * *V|ftKj ' ■ H' » 



H ' ■ t 




. I 


l 







i : 

• t- ‘:- 




I- rmmmik: " 


S%1 


' 1 ^’ . 1 , i'*»f." 




i 


0 


' 'sy/'x ’ c . ■: ? ■- ' 'V 

•'v';. ? - . ■ : • I It -I i <‘■*’."1 , 



'ri'- ' 


, ‘ 


> 


. V ' ’ j 

‘ t • 




1 ■ ^ 

, ‘.•';i . i/t -'■ 



y ■ 

V'- 3 .' ■ 




^ w. 

■■ 'i 

■. r -r 


V ''■■ ■■■■ if ;■ ' ' '■■■>A ■•■‘•A ■• 

.:■ : 


,• i.A 


i.' 




V « 


/ »* 


V • • 1 / ' 

. k I •' 


/ • ; ', ' * • ■ ^ ’» ' ''iv 'i'* "S* 

s''-: ,' •' 1, ? '' •1; **■: 

.'.. w'Lm- • Js • "' V' • 1 . •. w*. «*.\ 1 • » -M. .^14 1 


. k 


t • '. ' 

■ . 

, j; * • 

,■: ' • r. , 

:r ’ ^ V ;. , ...V: 


• z.\ 





\ 'u -K \ LiL*'* ' * 




.w. 




V ‘ ' ' - ' 4 iij ' *' 7 ' 

■ ^-^.If if? t 


• ( 

1 






PREFACE. 


The real story of the long-con- 
tinued strike in the coke fields of 
Pennsylvania, and those later at 
Homestead and Buffalo, with their 
attendant sacrifice of life and prop- 
erty, and, if possible, the worse 
calamity of widening the breach be- 
tween the laboring classes and the 
capitalist, has suggested to the writer 
the central thought of this short 
fiction. It is hoped that by the read- 
ing of the story the public mind may 
be brought to the study of a com- 
paratively new solution of this great 
problem, and to a considerate answer 
to the query, Which Way, Sirs, 
THE Better ? ” 


The Author. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. Gathering Clouds 7 

II. Beldendale’s Proprietor 29 

III. Climbing Upward 49 

IV. Orange Blossoms 70 

V. Fire, Smoke, and Ashes 85 

VI. Kesurrection 93 

VII. The Meeting of the Knights 98 

VIII. The Strike 109 

IX. Tempted and Tried 119 

X. Conspiracy 130 

XL A Specimen of Legal Protection 141 

XII. The Riot 154 

XIII. Afterclaps 171 

XIV. Dawning of a Better Day 182 

XV. The Better Way 191 



V-.'- <■ 


•'i^V'-V.-; V 




Vf', /V 




< -''i-^r'J^-'”.- '■ ■ '-A** ■■'•'». 



rv..' 


V* v 


'I'/ 




• 7-.. j . '-r > ■*, 

' Ifc - * Jsrvitf' V * . - ■ 


0 


if 


' V 



« • 


*I • . LJ 





? 5 r 


♦ I j ♦ •« * 









t • V 



I A 


k.;- • y V^- . ^ 

■ • ; • k, r t*^A 3 


V • ' * V * ‘ I ’ 


V* -. vv.-, i 




% ■ V'S'V'i Vihv; ' 

■%;;>«'■ :''-'!mK - 

h ..- » * 1-'^^ 


; [■■'■( >^ 5 ! 



/. » I ■ .- 



'i>:. . . 


*J1 a 




P? V 


".v»; 




*. ■•'J A. ~ 


r <.'> ; •. t ^ < 

\' ii, y ' 

: ■ • ■-■ - ri^ ■ 







• » '•. V 




'*: *4 




JiJiV 


« . , . ♦. < ^ 


* J 




■- .» V- 




- 'J 


■■ 


;i- •^;. : ‘ 





f* 


■ #’ 





•- _L* ^ • * • 


■ : - • ' ‘ 


4 I 


"■W 

• 



iM 




/ .-* 


^ • 





. ■■: V.-'^ 



v./* ■,..^* *jx' ■ • 

.« •_- • -r -i.-J*’ .. . , 



' w-., • i.-'f . . 





r ■ 


W' 


» « 


•/ -• 


"• Av;«al 


, • V- 


WHICH WAX, SIRS, THE BETTER f 


CHAPTER I. 

GATHERING CLOUDS. 

No work yet, Michael ? ” 

^‘No, Mary; the committee and 
Mr. Belden at their meeting this 
morning failed to agree, and from 
the present outlook the future is 
dark indeed for any speedy adjust- 
ment of differences.” 

‘‘ The Lord help us, Michael, for 
who but he can fill these hungry 
mouths unless soon this strike is 
ended,” responded Mary, the tears 
welling up in her soft blue eyes, and 
trickling down her cheeks, as she 
looked down at the slumbering babe 


8 "WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

on her knee, and at the boy of five, 
and the girl of three, that played 
about the open door. 

“The Lord help us, Mary,” an- 
swered Michael. “ I have plead and 
urged a return to work, even at the 
reduction, until I am become an ob- 
ject of suspicion among the rest of 
the workmen, although, Grod knows, 
wages were low enough before, and 
I had hoped that the reduction would 
not long be insisted upon by Mr. 
Belden, and that we would not be 
idle more than a week or two at the 
furthest. ” 

“ Well, Michael,” replied Mary, 
“I paid out our last dollar yesterday 
to the market-man, and this morning 
Mr. Jones, the grocer, told me that 
he thought he could no longer 
give us credit ; that our bill now 
amounted to several dollars, and that 
he could no longer trust unless he 
could have some assurance of pay ; 
that from appearances the strike 


WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER ? 9 

seemed no nearer settlement than it 
did a month ago. And then the coal 
is almost out, the days are growing 
colder, and the children are needing 
shoes and warmer clothing for the 
winter.” 

As these thoughts came into Mary’s 
heart for utterance, her voice trem- 
bled and tears again filled her eyes. 

Cheer up, Mary; we must not 
allow ourselves to look so much on 
the dark side. Don’t let us cross the 
bridge before we come to it. Brighter 
days are yet in store. Thank God, 
we have health and strength ; this 
strike will soon go- the way of all 
before it ; besides, the other Unions 
urge us to hold out, and have pro- 
mised us that if we stand firm they 
will see that we do not need for a 
sufficient support to keep the wolf 
from the door. Much as I dislike to 
accept aid from those who are as 
little able as myself, from their wage 
earnings, to give to others, yet if the 


10 WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER? 

worst comes to the worst, it is an 
assurance, at least, that we shall not 
starve,” replied Michael ; and bending 
over, he imprinted a warm kiss on 
Mary’s cheek, and lifting the babe 
from her knee, playfully tossed her 
aloft in his strong arms. 

Michael Durant and Mary Daily, 
six years before the time of the above 
conversation, had joined heart and 
hand in the battle of life. Both of 
them were of that great middle class 
of Americans — if we may apply that 
foreign term of class distinction ; 
their parents, being neither very rich 
nor very poor, were 5^et obliged to 
win their way in life by daily toil, 
and by the practice of the rules of 
strict economy. When Michael was 
a lad his father had died, and though 
possessed of a small farm, yet through 
a long and wearing sickness debts 
had accumulated, and when death 
came to the weary sufferer, the auc- 
tioneer stood ready, with his going, 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 11 

going, gone,” to meet the demands 
of the waiting creditors. After these 
were satisfied, little remained for the 
widowed mother and orphaned chil- 
dren. The common schools of the 
country afforded Michael a rudi- 
mentary education, but at the age of 
fifteen his school days closed, and he 
sought employment in the iron mills 
of his neighboring county town, 
amid the dust and soot, the rush and 
roar of which he grew to man’s estate 
with little money in his pockets, but 
with much muscle and a great power 
of endurance ; a better capital on 
which to start life than dollars and 
cents. 

It was in these years of early 
discipline that he met, wooed, and 
won Mary Daily, his equal in 
every respect. She was his junior 
only by a year or two, and like 
himself with no dowry save a 
sound constitution which blossomed 
out in rosy lips and laughing 


12 WHICH WAY, sms, THE BETTER? 

eyes. After his marriage Michael 
went to Beldendale, one of those 
manufacturing villages so frequently 
found in the iron regions of Penn- 
sylvania, west of the Alleghany moun- 
tains, and named for John Belden, 
the founder and proprietor of the 
large furnaces and rolling mills there 
located, in search of employment, 
which he readily found. After 
arranging for the occupancy of one 
of the numerous cottages erected on 
the lands of the proprietor of the 
works for the accommodation of his 
employes, he brought thither his 
young wife. The cottage was not 
large, but was large enough for two 
and with room to spare, having four 
rooms and a kitchen. It was one of 
a row of twenty-five or thirty others, 
all of the same architectural design, 
all painted the same color, and each 
having its little grass or flower plot 
in front and garden in the rear. 

To repeat the experience of this 


WHICH WAY, SIBS, THE BETTER? 13 

young couple would be but relating 
that of thousands of others similarly 
situated. Michael Durant went and 
came from his daily toil. Wages 
were fair and ample to meet the 
small necessities of the young house- 
keepers, so days, weeks, and months 
passed happily. Mary’s whole am- 
bition seemed to be, by tidiness and 
care, to make every nook and corner 
bright and pleasant for the home- 
coming of Michael. His dinner pail 
was always bright, and often, when 
at the noon hour the lid was re- 
moved, some little surprise in the 
culinary art awaited him, and when 
the whistle blew the quitting hour 
he hastened home, sure of a joyous 
welcome. Thus the years passed 
away and three little lives came to 
this happy home to fill fuller, if pos- 
sible, their cup of joy. First Willie, 
the pride of his father, the autocrat 
of the house ; then Mary, the person- 
ification of the mother ; and last, but 


14 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 

not the least in the hearts and affec- 
tions of the father and mother, baby 
Daise, whose cooings were yet a 
sealed language to the outside world, 
but in that family circle an open 
volume and read by all. 

Six years passed and no cloud had 
for a moment darkened the home of 
Michael and Mary Durant. A little 
money, perhaps a hundred or two 
dollars, had in this time accumulated, 
carefully saved out of Michael’s 
wages, and as carefully treasured 

for a rainy day,” or, as Mary often 
would say, a nest egg for the roof 
that shall cover our own house.” 
But now a day of darkening clouds 
had come, not only to the home of 
Michael and Mary, but to the whole 
population of Beldendale. 

One morning in the latter part of 
August, 187 — , as the men entered 
the furnaces and mills, placards 
met their eyes on every hand, posted 
conspicuously. Such a thing was 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 19 

duction of ten per cent ; at least that 
is what the notice states/’ 

Do you know of any reason for 
this ? ” queried Mary. 

I only know this, that by the latest 
quotations of the iron market there is 
a decline in the prices of such products 
as are made in these mills. Money is a 
little close ; besides, by the failure of 
Scroggs & Co. and Anderson Bros., 
Mr. Belden has been delayed in collect- 
ing, if he has not lost, large bills due 
him by these firms. I know this from 
what I overheard at the office of the 
works yesterday in a conversation be- 
tween two of the bookkeepers, and 
while I cannot well afford a reduction, 
yet I would rather suffer it than have 
the mills close at this season of the 
year. Mr. Belden has always, so far 
as I know, acted honorably with his 
workmen, and I do not think would 
require a reduction unless circum- 
stances absolutely demanded it.” 

These are just my thoughts,” re- 


20 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

plied Mary, and I said as much to 
Mrs. Murphy, hut I found she didn’t 
agree with me. She colored up at 
once, and said, ‘ Old Belden,’ as she 
called him, ^ looks out for number 
one. What does he care for the like 
of us, only so long as we line his nest 
with silver and lay for him the golden 
egg. My Patrick will never consent, 
and I shall stand at his back as long 
as we have a cent in our pockets or a 
crust in the cupboard. It takes two 
to make a bargain, and the Union 
will have a word to say before the 
reduction.’ She said she had seen 
nearly all the neighbors on the streets 
and they were all of her way of 
thinking. So you see, Michael, the 
matter may not be so easily settled 
as you think.” 

Michael was silent for a moment 
and then replied : This is a proper 
subject for consideration by the 
Union. I suppose a meeting will be 
called and the matter talked over. 


WHICH WAY, SIBS, THE BETTER? 21 

and I hope it will be satisfactorily ad- 
justed. Mr. Belden, when he posted 
those notices, of course knew and ex- 
pected the Union would consider the 
matter, and I for one hope that by 
September all will be right.” 

With this remark Michael rose 
from the supper table, put on his hat, 
took up the market basket, and 
started for the village to make some 
necessary purchases. As he walked 
along the village street, certain caba- 
listic signs appeared, here and there, 
chalked on sidewalks and fences, 
and known only to the initiated, but 
which, interpreted, gave notice to the 
members of Assembly No. 10 of the 
Knights of Labor that a meeting of 
special importance was called for that 
evening at eight o’clock sharp, for 
the consideration of important busi- 
ness. 

Passing on down the street, Michael 
encountered here and there little knots 
of men standing on the street corners, 


22 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 

engaged in low but earnest consulta- 
tion, and it was evident to the most 
casual observer that Beldendale was 
more deeply stirred on some question 
of importance to its interests than 
ever before in its history. 

On coming opposite the open door 
of a low one-story wooden building, 
with gayly decorated front and broad 
windows, but so painted inside as to 
partially admit light, but at the same 
time prevent the curious outsider 
from seeing what might be going on 
within, and on which, in large letters, 
the public was informed that within 
was the saloon of Johannes Schlausser, 
where cold lunch and cool lager could 
always be had on demand. 

Some one called from within, Hoy, 
Moike ! ” 

Looking around, Michael saw his 
neighbor, Patrick Murphy, coming 
toward him from the saloon counter, 
wiping with his shirt-sleeve the beer- 
froth from his lips. 


WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER ? 23 

And how does yez loik auld Bil- 
den’s tin per cint squaze ? ’’ 

You mean the reduction,” replied 
Michael. 

Faix, an’ what ilse could I be 
afther namin’ of it ? I don’t dignifoy 
it by the name of reduction ; it 
sounds too raspictable ; I call it 
squaze, for that’s what it mains,” 
answered Patrick. 

‘‘Well, I haven’t had time to con- 
sider the matter fully. It is some- 
thing to think about before making 
up one’s mind.” 

“ To think aboot, to consader ? 
Faix, and in what condation is a mon 
to consader whin seein’ he hasn’t a 
cint in his pocket, a score against 
him at me friend’s. Master Schlaus- 
ser, and an impty mail barrel to 
home for Bridget and the childers. 
Why, mon, who can think and con- 
sader under such circumstances ? ” 

“ But, Patrick, every question, 
you know, has two sides to it, and 


24 WHICH WAY, SIBS, THE BETTEB ? 

should not be decided too hastily,’^ 
answered Michael, conciliatorily, see- 
ing the rising ire of his excitable co- 
laborer. 

^^‘Two soides to it.’ Faix, to 
Paddy Murphy and Bridget a quis- 
tion of a tin per cint squaze by auld 
Bilden has but one soide, and that’s 
the soide of Paddy and Bridget. 
But come, Moike, have a glass o’ 
beer. My throat’s dry as a whustle 
a considerin’.” 

^^No, excuse me, Patrick, I never 
drink ; besides I must do my market- 
ing and hurry home so I may be in 
time to attend the meeting to-night,” 
answered Michael, moving down the 
street. 

^^Yis, be sure and come to the 
matin’. Oy’ve been a seein’ of the 
byes this afternoon, and they’ll be a 
considerin’ of auld Bilden’s tin per cint 
squaze to-noight,” replied Patrick, as 
he turned again to the counter and 
ordered another glass of beer, which 


WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER ? 25 

Mr. Schlausser promptly chalked 
down on a slate, kept always at hand 
as a convenient method of keeping 
accounts. 

Michael Durant made his pur- 
chases, and then hastening home, 
told Mary of the meeting of the 
Union, and his purpose to attend. 
He also told her of his conversa- 
tion with Patrick Murphy, and ex- 
pressed a fear that the deliberations 
of the Union might not he char- 
acterized with that spirit of fairness 
and consideration of the rights of 
employer and employe that should 
govern such assemblies. 

As Michael was about to leave for 
the meeting, Mary came to him, and 
taking his hands in hers, looked up 
into his face and said : 

Michael, I have so often read of 
strikes and lockouts, and of the 
awful sufferings they so frequently 
entail, that I cannot help being anx- 
ious about the result of your meet- 


26 WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER ? 

ing to-night. If these mills shut 
down, the little we have saved will 
soon be spent, and the home of our 
own that we have so often talked 
and planned about will he farther 
than ever from realization. I do 
so hope and pray that moderate 
counsels will prevail, that no rash 
step will be taken, and that this 
little cloud may soon pass away.” 

Looking down in her upturned 
eyes, Michael answered, “I fully see 
the danger ahead of us, and the 
difficulty of controlling an element 
in our Union which I very much 
fear is disposed to take the bit and 
carry matters to the extreme, but 
I assure you, by my love for you 
and these our children, that every- 
thing I can do will be done to pre- 
vent the closing of the mills.” And 
passing his arm around her waist, 
he drew her close to him and, af- 
fectionately kissing her cheek, passed 
out into the gathering darkness, 


WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER ? 27 

and walked slowly and thoughtfully 
toward the place of meeting. 

The street leading from his cottage 
to the main business thoroughfare 
of the village lay along the brow of 
a hill overlooking the river, along 
the margin of which the furnaces 
and mills had been erected. From 
this street, as he walked leisurely to- 
ward the village, Michael Durant 
had a magnificent night view of the 
works. From a hundred chimneys 
and furnace stacks dark columns of 
smoke rolled upward on the still 
August night winds, which, after 
rising a hundred feet or more above 
the works, like vast living spirals, 
united and spread out over the 
valley, enshrouding it with a thick 
canopy of motionless cloud. At in- 
tervals, brilliant tongues of fiame, 
as the dampers were opened, shot 
skyward, tingeing for the time with 
their red glow the cloudy pillar, and 
which, being reflected back, threw 


28 WHICH WAY, SIBS, THE BETTER ? 

out, in sharp black lines, every object 
about the works. Although Michael 
had passed this way a thousand 
times, yet the scene below was so 
striking he stopped, looked, and list- 
ened. The throbbings of the mighty 
engines in their ceaseless pulsations 
were borne to his ears. The low hum 
of industry filled the whole valley, 
and the thought of the possibility 
that in a few days these engines 
might cease their throbbings, the 
ashes of these fires lie cold and dead 
on the furnace hearths, and all as 
the result of the action of the meeting 
toward which he was then bending 
his steps, weighed heavily on his 
heart. 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 29 


CHAPTER II. 
beldendale’s proprietor. 

John Belden, the proprietor of the 
furnaces and mills, and the founder 
of Beldendale, was one of those phen- 
omena of our modern American civil- 
ization that, like exotics in a con- 
genial soil, spring up and soon out- 
grow and overtop all their fellows. 
In his early childhood his father was 
killed by an explosion in the rolling 
mills and nail factory of Roger 
Duncan, of Powhatan, Virginia, in 
one of the departments of which he, 
at that time, was superintendent. 
After the death of the father, Mrs. 
Belden continued to live at Powhat- 
an, and at the early age of ten 
years her son John was employed in 


30 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

the mills at picking up scrap and se- 
lecting nails — a common employment 
for children in those days. John 
was one of those precocious lads, 
quick to perceive and quick to exe- 
cute, and did his work with such 
precision and care that he soon at- 
tracted the attention of Mr. Duncan, 
who daily visited each department of 
his works, not overlooking its smallest 
detail. On one occasion, while mak- 
ing his rounds, he stopped at the 
table where John, with deft hand 
and quick eye, was culling the defec- 
tive nails from a quantity that lay 
before him, and for a moment watch- 
ed the boy at his work. Placing his 
hand on his head, he kindly asked. 
Can you read, my boy ? ” 

‘^Yes, sir,” answered John, look- 
ing up into his employer’s face with 
frank and open countenance. 

Why, when did you go to school ? 
you have been working here for a 
long time,” replied Mr. Duncan. 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 31 

never went to school; my 
mother taught me evenings after 
work hours.’’ 

^^Andwhois your mother? And 
where is your father ? ” 

^^My mother is Mrs. Belden ; we 
live on Pine street. My father is 
dead. He was killed by the explo- 
sion in this mill. His name was 
Robert Belden.” 

Robert Belden, Robert Belden,” 
repeated Mr. Duncan, hesitatingly, 
trying to gather up the threads of 
recollection. Is it possible that you 
are the son of my old superintendent ? 
Why, a better man than your father 
was never in my employ. After 
work hours come over to my office.” 

John worked on until the big bell 
rang out in cheerful notes the close 
of the working day (the modern 
steam whistle was as yet unknown), 
then washing his hands and face at 
the large wooden trough or boish ” 
used as a lavatory in the mill, and 


32 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

taking his lunch basket on his arm, 
walked over to the general office of 
the works, wondering what Mr. Dun- 
can wished to see him for. 

The office consisted of two rooms ; 
the front or main room was quite 
large and occupied by the clerks and 
bookkeeper of the works. The rear 
room was smaller, connecting with 
the front room by a door on which 
was a card with the warning words, 
No admittance except on business.” 
John entered the main room, and, 
with cap in hand, inquired of a clerk 
if Mr. Duncan was in. 

Yes, but he is busy and cannot 
be disturbed,” answered the clerk 
without looking up. 

John’s courage almost failed him, 
but remembering the kind words of 
Mr. Duncan in the mill, he timorously 
ventured to say, He told me to 
come and see him as soon as work 
hours were over, and I have come.” 
At this the clerk rose from his 


WHICH WAY, sms, THE BETTER ? 33 

desk, went to the door of the adjoin- 
ing room, tapped lightly, and the 
voice of Mr. Duncan from within 
said, Come.’’ 

Opening the door, the clerk said : 

There is a boy here who says you 
told him to call.” 

Show him in,” replied Mr. Dun- 
can, at which the clerk turned to 
John and bade him to enter, then 
closed the door and resumed his 
work at his desk. 

The private office of Mr. Duncan 
was plainly furnished. A large safe 
stood at one end of the room, at the 
other a writing-desk, while along 
the wall were shelves arranged, on 
which were numerous specimens of 
iron ore, coal, and manufactured pro- 
ducts. The floor was carpeted, and 
a few split-bottomed chairs completed 
the furnishing. No attempt at dis- 
play was visible ; the room, like its 
owner and occupant, was plain in the 
extreme. 


34 WHICH WAY, SIBS, THE BETTER ? 

Turning from his desk as John en- 
tered, Mr. Duncan bade him be seated, 
and said, “You say you can read ? ” 

“Yes, sir,” John replied. 

“ Bead that,” said Mr. Duncan, 
handing him a newspaper that lay 
on his desk, indicating a short para- 
graph. John took the paper and read 
the paragraph in a distinct and un- 
hesitating voice. “Well done,” said 
Mr. Duncan. “ Can you write ? ” 

“Yes, sir,” replied John. 

“ Have you studied arithmetic ? ” 

“Yes, sir ; to the rule of three.” 

“And you never attended school, 
and have learned all this at home in 
the evenings ? ” 

“Mother could not spare me to at- 
tend school, and said while I worked 
in the mill she would teach me of 
evenings.” 

“Well, would you like to go to 
school ? ” 

“Oh, so much,” answered the boy. 

“Well,” continued Mr. DuncaiUj 


WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER ? 85 

have watched you at your work, 
and have found you always punctual 
and careful. I want an office hoy ; 
that is, some one to come early in the 
mornings and tidy up the office, and 
keep it nice and clean ; you will not 
need to be here later than half-past 
eight in the morning. I suppose your 
mother cannot spare your wages. 
Say to her I will pay you as much as 
you are now making, then you can 
go to school. You can return here 
after school hours and before the 
office closes, and do any little errands 
I may want you to do. How will 
that suit you, my young man ? ” 

‘‘Oh ! I am so glad of your kind 
offer, and I know that my mother 
will feel very thankful. When shall 
I begin ? ” 

“To-morrow, my boy, and now 
you can go.” Mr. Duncan opened 
the door and as John passed into the 
outer room, he said to one of the 
clerks, “ Eobert, give this boy the 


36 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

extra office key ; he is to be our 
janitor.” 

As John hastened home his heart 
was light. It was his first recog- 
nition, and his foot unconsciously 
pressed the first round of the ladder 
by which he was destined to rise to 
prominence in the commercial world. 
In a few words he told his mother of 
his conversation with Mr. Duncan. 

With eyes brimming with tears, 
the fond mother clasped her boy in 
her arms, and kissing him affection- 
ately, said : My boy, I thank God 
for this opportunity for you. I could 
not much longer be your teacher, as 
I have not the education to carry 
you farther in your studies, and I so 
longed that the way might, somehow, 
open that you could go to school ; 
and now it has come. But, my dear 
boy, don’t forget how it came. What 
is that text I have had you repeat to 
me so many times ? ” 

‘‘ ‘ Thou hast been faithful over a 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 37 

few things, I will make thee ruler 
over many things,’ ” replied John. 

Yes, my son,” answered his 
mother; ^‘and the rule is just as 
truly God’s rule in the business as in 
the moral world. It was your faith- 
fulness in the little things about your 
employment that attached Mr. Dun- 
can’s attention, and now, as you go 
to the office and the school, keep ever 
in mind this rule of faithfulness and 
its rewards.” 

Early the next morning John was 
at the office, and by eight o’clock he 
had transformed the whole interior, 
and he could tell by the pleased ex- 
pression of Mr. Duncan and the other 
occupants that his work was appre- 
ciated. 

John entered the school of theEev. 
Dr. Jason Matoon, who supplemented 
his meager salary as the pastor of 
the small Presbyterian congregation 
of the village and vicinity by teach- 
ing a private school for boys. His 


38 WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER? 

progress was rapid in all his studies, 
especially in mathematics, and by his 
punctuality, diligent application, and 
quick perception, he soon won a high 
grade in his classes and a place in the 
esteem of his teacher. 

Dr. Matoon was a Calvinist of the 
olden school. The fashions of the 
world might change, but he, never, 
either in his religious views or per- 
sonal appearance. The knee-breeches, 
blue-cloth coat, powdered hair, and 
queue of years gone by, were still the 
only dress in which he thought a 
gentleman could becomingly appear, 
while theologically his feet were im- 
movably planted on the doctrines of 
election, foreordination, and predes- 
tination ; and to suggest in his pres- 
ence any thoughts savoring of 
Arminianism — then a comparatively 
new doctrine in the country — was a 
challenge to intellectual battle. He 
mentally, and often publicly, applied 
his favorite doctrines to the men about 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 39 

him and with whom he daily associ- 
ated, and to the boys in the school- 
room. ^^God is the potter at his 
wheel,’’ the old man used to say. 

He maketh men, his vessels, as it 
pleaseth him, and for his own glory, 
and as in his own inscrutable wisdom 
seemeth good. One vessel he maketh 
_ to honor, another to dishonor ; and 
shall the vessel say to the potter, why 
makest thou me thus ? ” 

Although the doctor was a blue- 
stocking of the deepest dye, and also 
quite blue-blooded, yet, withal, he 
was democratic in the extreme. The 
king on his throne or the lord in his 
palace might be the vessel of dis- 
honor, while the poor cottager or the 
toiler in mill or mines might be the 
vessel of honor. ^^Man looketh on 
the outward appearance, but God 
looketh on the heart,” was the 
infallible standard by which he meas- 
ured all his high thoughts of predes- 
tination, and beneath his stiff blue 


40 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 

coat lapel beat a true, a humble, and 
a tender heart. To the unruly boy of 
his school he was a mortal terror, yet 
never punishing unmercifully ; to the 
diligent and obedient he was as kind 
and tender as a mother. 

In the old doctor’s heart John 
Belden soon found a warm corner 
and became his particular favorite. 
He soon gathered the boy’s history ; 
visited his mother, and learned from 
her the story of Mr. Duncan’s kind- 
ness, and that it was through his favor 
that she was at all able to keep her 
boy in school. The doctor was quite 
intimate with Mr. Duncan ; both of 
them were Scotch-Irish, and conse- 
quently of very similar opinions on 
all questions, theological and politi- 
cal, and were often to be found in 
company. On such occasions Dr. 
Matoon would frequently refer in his 
conversation to the boys in his 
school, and speak quite freely of 
their merits and demerits. Indeed 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 41 

he was quite sure that from the 
embryo boy he M with prophetic 
- eye look down the liic line and tell 
his end from the beginning. The 
word accident had no place in his 
vocabulary ; Providence was the 
substitute. 

In one of these frequent conver- 
sations the doctor said : Mr. Dun- 
can, that boy, John Belden, is a 
prodigy, yes, a prodigy, a vessel 
made of extra good material. Why, 
you know when he entered my 
school ? Well, he is outstripping 
every other boy in his classes, even 
those who are by several years his 
seniors. I tell you his future is worth 
keeping in view.” 

Yes, I have not been an idle 
observer,” replied Mr. Duncan. 

What I like about the boy is that 
you never have to speak to him a 
second time, and I can trust him im- 
plicitly.” 

^^Well, if I were a business man 


42 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 

as you are, I thirk I would, if pos- 
sible, give ;he bp' 'u opportunity.” 

“ I have beC _ thinking of that, 
although I have never spoken of it to 
anyone. I am getting on in years, 
and I find my business often a severe 
burden. I would so much like to have 
a little more relaxation, travel some, 
and live at my ease, but I have never 
yet found the person exactly to whom 
I could entrust all my interests, and 
John is out of the question on ac- 
count of his youth ; if he were older 
I might think of it.” 

“Let me suggest, my friend,” re- 
plied the doctor, “ something of 
which you perhaps have never 
thought, at least that you have never 
fully considered. Your life has been 
one of toil and care, yes, I may say 
of unremitting care, and it is doubt- 
less becoming burdensome to you ; 
but, my friend, a change of occu- 
pations often brings a relief more 
satisfying than a secession from all 


WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER ? 43 

care, and living, you say, at your 
ease.” 

Ah ! you speak now in a riddle. 
Do you mean there is rest in labor ? 
Please explain.” 

Yes,” replied the doctor, thought- 
fully, speaking cautiously and weigh- 
ing his words with care. In a sense 
there is rest in a change of labor, but 
that is not exactly the thought I wish 
to convey. The laborer has always, 
or should have always, a purpose in 
view, something to he attained. It 
is when we pursue some object that 
our best efforts are put forth, else 
labor would be no more satisfying to 
us than to yonder ox that draws its 
burden only at the persuasion of the 
goad of its master. The ox is driven ; 
man, intelligent, intellectual man, 
must be drawn ; that’s the differ- 
ence. Mere physical ease to a man 
of your years and active business 
pursuits would not bring the rest 
you so much desire. What makes 


44 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

your labor to-day burden to you is 
that the object ^ained, or at least 
you are so ine goal that you 

have lost your active interest. Eest 
will not come, my friend, by merely 
running away, by relaxation and 
idleness, but it will come by a change, 
or rather the substitution of a new 
object of pursuit.” 

Why, doctor, you are quite a 
philosopher,” jokingly replied Mr. 
Duncan; ^^but as I am a practical 
business man, please cannot you give 
me a practical illustration of your 
philosophy.” 

Certainly, and I need no better 
subject for illustration than yourself. 
I have known you quite intimately 
for many years, and during all that 
time, to me it appears you have 
labored and economized, pursued one 
object — the acquirement of wealth. 
The goal of your ambition has been 
attained. Your labor now consists 
in hedging it about ; the stimulus of 


WHICH WAY, sms, THE BETTER ? 45 

pursuit is gone, th labor grows heav- 
ier and more rasp '*> day ; you 

long to run away vo und rest some- 
where. Mind, my friend, I am not 
saying this in censure. The acquire- 
ment of wealth is not necessarily 
wrong ; I only speak of it as a fact. 
But now you want rest, relaxation. 
How can you obtain it ? In idleness 
a man of your composition cannot 
find it ; the only way is to set another 
object before you for attainment. 
Let that object be one less for self and 
more for the Master ; one that will 
lift out of and above self, and bestow 
on others, and I assure you that the 
desired rest will come to you, and 
there will be a satisfaction in your 
labor that you have never dreamed 
possible.” 

The doctor had grown very much 
in earnest, had left his seat, and now 
stood holding his friend’s hand firmly 
in his own. 

^‘Yes, yes; I begin to see,” an- 


46 WHICH WAY, silts, THE BETTElt ? 

swered Mr. Duncafe I have seen 
men of >Vanced in years, 

who one woui^ ^ _ se would be seek- 
ing rest and retirement, working with 
all the apparent earnestness of young 
manhood for the consummation of 
some philanthropic object, but I could 
never understand them ; but I can see 
now, they were drawn not driven” 

“I am rejoiced you do see,” re- 
sponded the doctor. “ And now, my 
dear friend, try my prescription, and 
I assure you that you will never 
regret it ; ” and warmly shaking his 
friend’s hand, they separated. 

Roger Duncan sat in his office for 
a long time meditating the words of 
the village pastor, and the more he 
thought of the “prescription,” as the 
doctor termed it, the more he was 
convinced that it was the remedy he 
most needed. The words of the 
doctor, so warmly spoken, were too 
true, that all his life long it had been 
his absorbing ambition to accumu- 


WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER? 47 

late, to be known as the richest man 
in the community. To this end he 
had exerted all his energies, had 
practised the stri^,. t economy, and 
as a reward had seen from year to 
year his bank account increasing ; and 
by the time he had passed his fiftieth 
birthday, and looked down the shad- 
owy side of life, he was quoted and 
known as the wealthiest man of his 
state. But somehow, he could not 
tell why, there wa; not the satisfac- 
tion in his wealth that he had antici- 
pated, and the wear and care of hus- 
banding seemed tenfold greater than 
that of accumulating it. Often he 
was weary, lacking energy in his busi- 
ness, and he was unable to account 
for this on the theory of increasing 
years ; it must bebe^^^se his ambition 
had been attained, and that he now no 
longer pursued but possessed. The 
‘‘irons in the fire ’’seemed to accu- 
mulate, and weariness and vexations 
multiplied about him. 


48 -WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER ? 

With these thoughts coursing 
through his mind, there came clearly 
to him the par+mg words of his 
friend : “ The d ^ way is to set an- 
other object before you for attain- 
ment. Let that object be one less for 
self and more for the Master ; one 
that will lift out of and above self, 
and bestow on others.” 

“ Who will afford a better or more 
likely ‘ object ’ upon which to try the 
doctor’s prescrip/ ’ on than John Bel- 
den ? For years he has served me 
faithfully, and the boy must be al- 
most faultless, else Dr. Matoon would 
not be so lavish in his praises. In 
another two or three years of study 
and thorough business training, he 
will be equipped to assist me greatly 
in the managemej^t of my business.” 

Having reached this conclusion Mr. 
Duncan rose from his desk, put on 
his greatcoat, and prepared to leave 
his office for the day. 


1 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 49 


CHAP:.'tSR III. 

CLIMBING UPWARD. 

All the week following the con- 
versation narrated in the preceding 
chapter, thoughts of and plans for his 
newly-adopted protege haunted the 
mind of Roger Duncan. Indeed, he 
found a new and peculiar interest, a 
very fascination, in these thoughts 
and plans, and the old familiar friend 
that by chance might have met him 
as he walked the streets could not 
have failed to notice a quickened step 
and a more erect carriage than had 
been observable fqr many months. 
It was but the working of the new 
leaven. Again he was in pursuit, 
and the object of his pursuit was a 
higher and nobler one than had ever 
before engrossed his thoughts. 

4 


( 



50 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

Oh ! the uplifting power of a noble 
purpose, who can measure it ? Such 
purposes have made the world’s 
heroes, and will sCy continue to do un- 
til the end of tinle. There was one 
thought, however, that would in- 
trude itself upon Mr. Duncan’s mind, 
and that tended to mar these pleasant 
reveries. That was, what would the 
boy’s mother say? Would she con- 
sent to all his plans ? And if she 
were dependent luwn his wages, how 
was the questicm to be disposed of 
successfully of making provision for 
her ? Mr. Duncan was a bachelor, 
and to him woman’s ways were an 
unsolved mystery. He could deal 
with men, but this was the first time 
in his business career he had had to 
deal with a woma i, and that, too, on 
that delicate of all questions of sup- 
plementing her support without a 
consideration. It was an awkward 
problem and one not easy of solution. 
But Mr. Duncan was a man “ set in 


) 


WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER ? 61 

his way,” and when he had once 
purposed in his heart” no obstacle 
was insurmountable. 

In this dilemnA^hedid not think of 
his friend, Dr. Matoon, as a capable 
adviser. He determined to see Mrs. 
Belden in person, and know fully her 
wishes concerning his intended pur- 
poses toward her son. Brushing his 
hat and clothes with more than 
ordinary care, he sought her home. 

The house occ; bied by her was 
an unpretentious, one-story cottage, 
standing some distance from the 
main thoroughfare on one of the side 
streets, surrounded by other houses 
of similar design, and occupied chiefly 
by operatives employed in the mills. 
On entering the gate of the small 
front yard he marked the evidences 
of taste and reflnement of the occu- 
pant. The walk to the front door 
and doorsteps were scrupulously 
clean, and the vines and shrubbery 
had been trimmed and trained with 

( 


62 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

the greatest care. Knocking at the 
door, he was received by a lady, 
plainly but neatly dressed, whose 
broad forehead an(^ large expressive 
gray eyes indicated a person of more 
than ordinary intelligence and refine- 
ment. 

“ Is this the home of Mrs. Belden ? ” 
he inquired. 

“It is. Will you please walk in ? ” 
Mrs. Belden replied ; and bidding the 
visitor be seated, s]* j said : “ Mr. Dun- 
can, I believe. 1 have frequently 
seen you on the street, but have 
never had the pleasure of your 
acquaintance.” 

“Yes,” answered Mr. Duncan, tak- 
ing the proffered seat, “ and you will 
please pardon this intrusion, but I 
have called this morning to talk over 
with you matters pertaining to your 
son, and which, if agreeable to you, 
may, I trust, be a great benefit 
and advantage to him in coming 
years.” 

i 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 53 


I am certainly under great obli- 
gations to you, Mr. Duncan,” replied 
Mrs. Belden, ‘^^for what you have 
already done foi^ ,my son, and if de- 
serving of your continued favors I 
shall only be too happy.” 

Mr. Duncan then proceeded to un- 
fold to Mrs. Belden his plans and 
purposes concerning the education of 
her son, to all of which she listened 
with a mother’s , interest. ‘^And 
now,” said he, only wait your ap- 
proval.” 

Mrs. Belden sat, intently gazing 
into the fire. A conflict was evident- 
ly being waged in her mind, in the 
decision of which her whole being 
was absorbed. At length she an- 
swered : Mr. Duncan, I certainly 
appreciate your great interest in the 
future welfare of my son. You have 
already placed me under obligations 
to you, but for personal reasons I 
cannot see my way clear to accept 
your very kind offer.” 


/ 


54 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

Certainly, Mrs. Belden, personal 
reasons must be very strong that 
would lead you to rs ject my proposi- 
tion. Pray, if I d not intrude, tell 
me these reasons ; they may be such 
as can be overcome.’’ 

have no reason particularly to 
conceal them, Mr. Duncan ; my 
poverty alone is the reason. My 
health is such that I have to carefully 
husband every resource to meet my 
ordinary expenses, ' and I find myself 
almost entirely dependent upon the 
wages of my son for support, and 
much as I should like to accept your 
kind offer to aid him to a more 
liberal education, I feel I cannot do 
so.” 

Mr. Duncan reflected a moment. 
As has been said, he was a man not 
easily swerved from a purpose. 

‘^Mrs. Belden,” he replied, the 
matter of your boy’s wages need not 
stand in the way. I will continue 
his wages during his absence, so 

% 




WHICH WAY, sms, THE BETTER ? 55 

there need be no hesitation on that 
account.” 

Thank you, Y{.r. Duncan ; much 
as I appreciate your honorable inten- 
tions, I could not accept for myself, 
even for my son’s sake and in his 
name, a gratuity.” 

‘^Beg pardon, madam; I do not 
wish to urge, but may I not pay the 
salary as an advancement rather than 
a gratuity ? I expe^i/t your son, when 
he has completed his education, to be 
again in my employ, and that at such 
a salary that his present wages will 
be but a bagatelle to repay.” 

‘‘You certainly place me under 
great obligations, Mr. Duncan,” be- 
gan Mrs. Belden. 

“No obligations, no obligations 
whatever,” replied Mr. Duncan, fol- 
lowing up his apparent advantage. 
“ All I ask is that I may do for your 
son as I would do were he my own ; 
and I can trust him so implicitly that 
if his health and life be spared, any 


56 WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER ? 

little advancements that I may make 
him now I know will be fully re- 
paid ; and if the^ e are not spared 
him, there shall .je no after obliga- 
tions, I assure you.’’ 

The end of it all was that Mrs. 
Belden yielded to the importunity of 
Mr. Duncan, and in due time John 
was sent to Benville College, entering 
the Junior class, from which in three 
years he graduarpd with the highest 
honors. * 

Did we say ^^the end of it all”? 
No, not all. John’s name was con- 
tinued as an employe on the books of 
the Duncan Iron Works. Punctual- 
ly, as the other employes were paid, 
his wages were sent to his mother, 
and duly charged to his account. 
Mrs. Belden rejoiced in the future 
prospects of her son. To say she 
was proud of him, as each vacation he 
returned home to spend the days, 
looking more manly and noble, could 
but faintly express the fond mother’s 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 57 

feelings. Mr. Duncan also took a 
special delight in the monthly re- 
ports of his progyess, sent him by 
prearrangement ^ith the president 
of the college, and with a sense of 
keenest pleasure he drew the checks 
and made remittances that met all 
expenses. 

Thus two hearts were centered on 
a common object. It is a law of 
physics that two l^odies tending to- 
ward a common \. 3nter must meet. 
Metaphysically, does not the same 
law govern ? The bachelor quarters 
of Mr. Duncan began soon to be too 
narrow and straitened. His only 
confidant had been his friend. Dr. 
Matoon, but now he did not fully 
confide all to him. It was no more 
than natural that, when by chance 
he and Mrs. Belden met, they would 
interchange views as to the progress 
John was making in his studies, and 
that letters received by Mr. Duncan 
from him were regularly sent to the 


68 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

cottage of Mrs. Belden ; and what 
he said, and what he was doing, 
were common suhiects of conversa- 
tion. Occasional) the boy’s wants 
were such as absolutely required the 
consultation of the mother and his 
benefactor, and at such times Mr. 
Duncan would be compelled to seek 
the cottage of the mother. As time 
passed, these visits became more and 
more frequent, rnd it was evident 
that the interests i f the absent school- 
boy were not always their real, 
though excusable, cause. Mr. Dun- 
can would hardly have admitted any 
other cause, had he been questioned, 
though deep in his heart he had a 
consciousness of a pleasure while in 
the presence of Mrs. Belden, at her 
cosy, vine-covered cottage, that he 
would admit to himself he did not 
enjoy in the solitude of his own 
rooms at the village hotel. 

Time passed rapidly and soon 
brought to John Belden the closing 


J 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 59 

month of his senior year at Benville 
College. His three years of college 
life had wonderfr^ly transformed 
him ; from the awkyard boy he had 
developed into manhood, and now 
with a mind well stored with college 
lore, he was about to make his debut 
into the more* active duties of a busi- 
ness life. 

Commencement day, the day of all 
days to the college ^boy, at length 
dawned at Benville^) and the people 
of the surrounding country came by 
carriage, cart, and horseback to wit- 
ness the closing exercises upon the 
college campus. The class historian 
read his eulogies, the class prophet 
painted in glowing colors the future 
of his co-graduates, and the campus 
rang with the sententious voice of the 
valedictorian. For none of these 
much-coveted places of commence- 
ment-day honors was young Belden 
an aspirant ; his mind was of a more 
practical turn, and in his class exer- 


60 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

cises, especially those pertaining to 
the sciences, he was the winner of 
the chief honors. Dr. Matoon, Mr. 
Duncan, and M Belden were all 
intensely interested spectators. The 
thesis of John Belden was geological 
and treated of the coal and ore de- 
posits of the Blue Kidge and Alle- 
ghany ranges, and his treatment of 
his subject showed his research and 
thorough familiarity with his theme ; 
and as he pict red the future pos- 
sibility of wealth and empire buried 
beneath these mountain-ranges and 
their foot-hills, and only waiting the 
pick and shovel of the miner, and the 
smelting furnaces and mills of the 
manufacturer, to cause the interven- 
ing valleys to teem with a prosperous 
population, the audience rose with 
one accord and cheered the youthful 
speaker. 

Dr. Matoon, under the stimulus of 
the enthusiastic plaudits, turned to 
Mr. Duncan and clasping his hand 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 61 

exclaimed : Didn’t I tell you that 
boy was made of no ordinary clay ? ” 

After these exercises came the dis- 
tribution of diplomiA and conferring 
of honors, and then amid the din of 
college songs and class cheers the 
throng of students and spectators 
dispersed, while the immediate 
friends of the several graduates 
pressed forward to the platform to 
bestow their congratulations. The 
first to clasp John’s 1( (nd was his old 
teacher. Dr. Matoon, who warmly 
congratulated him, then Mr. Duncan, 
and last his mother, who with tears, 
threw her arms about his neck and 
kissed him tenderly. 

A few days after their return 
home Mr. Duncan sent a note to 
John requesting an interview at his 
office. Promptly at the hour ap- 
pointed John entered the office and 
was ushered into Mr. Duncan’s 
private room. As he entered Mr. 
Duncan warmly greeted him, and 


62 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

after a few preliminary inquiries 
said jocosely : “Well, John, now that 
you are through college, I suppose 
you would like '~ome light employ- 
ment, just something to employ the 
mind and keep away the blues.” 

“ I certainly shall be pleased to en- 
gage at anything that will enable 
me, as soon as possible, to cancel my 
obligations to you for the great 
favors you have shown me.” 

“Don’t let t|iat little matter dis- 
turb you, John, although I know it 
is more desirable to be a creditor 
than a debtor ; but I hardly think 
your muscle is quite sufficient to un- 
dertake the running of a pair of 
rolls.” 

I am ready for anything ; muscle 
will develop with the using. ” 

“Well, my nose has been kept 
pretty close to the grindstone for 
years, and I am somewhat seriously 
considering the advisability of a 
foreign trip for a little recreation. 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 63 

and in that case I will stand in need 
of some one to take a superintendency 
of my interests while absent, and I 
thought probably rou could fill the 
place.” 

John opened his eyes in amaze- 
ment. Mr. Duncan, seeing his 
astonishment, went on : What do 
young men go to college for ? Why 
for years cram themselves with Latin, 
Greek, mathematics, and natural 
sciences unless it be 'of some future 
benefit, unless the ^ theories then 
learned are intended in after years 
to be practically applied ? Come, 
boy, don’t hesitate. I have 
confidence that you can soon 
master all the intricacies of my busi- 
ness. Had I not had that confidence 
even four years ago, I doubt if ever 
you would have seen Benville.” 

^^With your assistance, Mr. Dun- 
can, I can try, and I trust your confi- 
dence in me will not be too severely 
tried.” 


64 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

'‘All right, when will you begin ; 
say to-morrow ? But what of your 
salary ? ” 

“That I shall f'e pleased to leave 
to your generosity .” 

“My generosity ! That will never 
do in this business world.” 

“Well, say two thousand, ” replied 
John with doubtful air. 

“ Call it three,” responded Duncan, 
briskly, “ and in addition the cancel- 
lation of your i indebtedness, and I 
think if you fin^ the worry and care 
equal to what I have experienced in 
the years past, the place will not 
prove a sinecure or the salary too 
large.” 

Almost dazed with his good fortune, 
John left the office with a bounding 
heart and walked homeward. 

Mr. Duncan wheeled on his heel, 
and laughing to himself, said : “ I’ve 
given the boy his first lesson, some- 
thing he never would have learned 
at Benville ; as yet he is as green as 


WHICH WAY, the BETTEK ? 65 

grass, but the br^ns in that cranium, 
after a little practice, will be well 
worth the salary:’ . 

John could hardi keep a moderate 
pace on his way homeward. Flushed 
with excitement, jbe rushed into the 
room where his inother sat quietly 
engaged at sewiiig. Startled by the 
abrupt entrance aiid excited manner 
of her son, she exclaimed : 

Why, John, wko^ has happened ? 
what has come over jrou ? 

Happened ! cqni'e over me ! ” he 
answered, panting for breath. 
^Why, mother, I don’t know whether 
I’ve been struck ky lightning or 
what has happene,d. I only know 
that such a streakj of good fortune 
has hit me that r hardly know 
whether I am John .i|Belden or some 
other body.” . 

‘‘Well, I guess j you are John 
Belden yet ; but si\t down and tell 
me all about it,” replied his mother 
cheerily.” \ 


66 WHICH WAY, SIEW, THE BETTER? 

“Well, mother, dion’t think me gone 
daft,” John answ^jred, as he drop- 
ped into the mosit convenient chair. 
“ But when a bo* like me, that never 
rubbed one dollar against another 
that he could call his own, is of- 
fered a three-thousiand-dollar salary, 
isn’t it enough to drive him dis- 
tracted ? ” 

“ A three-thousand-dollar salary ! ” 
exclaimed Mrs. ’’^-elden, dropping her 
sewing. “Why, have you lost your 
reason, John?” 

“No, mother, it’s a veritable fact, 
and in addition to that my indebted- 
ness to Mr. Duncan for college ex- 
penses is all cancelled ; ” and in the 
exuberance of his joy he seized his 
mother, lifted her from her chair, and 
wheeled her about the room as though 
she were a girl of sixteen. 

“ Stop, stop, John, you will ruin my 
sewing ! There, my naughty boy, 
you have scattered it all over the 
floor. Now just be quiet and help 




\ 


WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER ? 67 

me gather up these goods, and in the 
meantime tell me who is my boy’s 
benefactor now ? ” i 

^‘Oh, who cayes for goods, 
mother ?” he laughingly replied. 

^^John, remember, ^He that is 
faithful over a few things shall be 
made ruler over many things.’ If 
anyone has offered you such a 
splendid salary, it is because he has 
observed your faithfulness, and not 
otherwise. But you have not an- 
swered my question,” soberly replied 
his mother. 

Well, mother, it is Mr. Duncan ; 
he sent for me to-day, and said he 
wanted to take a trip abroad — I sup- 
pose to Europe ; and he wanted some 
one to take charge of his business 
during his absence, and insisted that 
I should accept the situation. I enter 
on my duties to-morrow.” 

As John, in his excited mood, rat- 
tled on in the conversation, he did 
not notice that his mother bent her 


/ 


68 WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER ? 

head low over her sewing to con- 
ceal the blushes that tinged her 
cheeks. 

The village gossip had not yet come 
to the ears of John of the intimacy 
of Mr. Duncan and his mother. In 
reply, and without lifting her eyes 
from her sewing, Mrs. Belden said : 
“ I am so glad, John, and if you are 
only as faithful in your new and 
more important duties as you have 
heretofore been, ll feel confident that 
you will not disappoint your em- 
ployer.” 

“How exceedingly cool you are, 
mother ! just as though three-thou- 
sand-dollar salaries grew like apples 
on trees and were to be had for the 
picking.” 

“I do indeed rejoice with you, 
John, but in days of adversity I 
learned to say with Job, ‘The Lord 
taketh away,’ and now in prosperity 
shall I not say, ‘ The Lord giveth ’ ? 
and at aU times and under all cir- 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 69 

cumstances submissively say, ‘ Bless- 
ed be the name of the Lord ’ ? ” 

John took her face between his 
hands, caressingly , ■^nd stooping over 
her kissed her tenderly and said : 
“Yea, thrice blessed is the son that 
hath such a mother,” 


‘3 


/ 


70 WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER? 


CHAPTER IV. 

ORANGE BLOSSOMS. 

The unpretentious Presbyterian 
cburch of Powhatan village, with its 
straight-backed pews and high and 
unornamented j^alpit, presented quite 
a gala appearance on the morning of 
October 1, 18 — . The old colored 
sexton had made more than ordinary 
exertion to remove the accumulated 
dust and cobwebs, and bustled about 
as fast as his rheumatic legs would 
permit, arranging the ferns and 
potted plants in tasteful decoration 
that had been brought from the 
greenhouses of the not distant city. 
The village urchins, attracted by 
such an extraordinary proceeding, 
gathered about the open door with 


WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER ? 71 

wide-open eyes and mouths, and even 
invaded the sacred precincts, to the 
great annoyance of old Pompey, the 
sexton, who, with^ uplifted broom, 
advanced upon them, exclaiming : 

‘‘Now, you’ns jis’ go Vay from 
hyar, or I’se tell Mars’ Duncan as 
how you’ns s’iles des’ yer steps wid 
yes dirty feet, and sp’ils Misses’ nice 
clo’s when she comes in dis yer 
chu’ch ; now, go ’way, I’se tell yer ! ” 
at which demonstration of subduing 
wrath against infantile disobedience, 
every imp would disappear around 
the corners, and old Pompey would 
return to his sweeping and dusting 
with increased energy, muttering 
maledictions on “ Des’ ’ar pesky 
chil’in desicatin’ de Lo’d’s house dat 
a- way.” 

Promptly at eleven o’clock the 
ushers stood at the open church 
doors, awaiting the invited guests, 
who, soon beginning to arrive, wer^ 
by them escorted to their seats. 


72 WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER? 

Promptly at twelve o’clock the car- 
riage of Mr. Duncan came, followed 
closely by another, in which were 
seated Mrs. Belrien and her son. 
Alighting, Mr. 'Duncan and his 
groomsman entered the church and 
walked up the right aisle, while Mrs. 
Belden, leaning on the arm of her 
son, passed up the left, meeting at 
the pulpit, in front of which Dr. 
Matoon stood in waiting. No organ 
pealed forth tf, 3 wedding march. 
The time was at a date when instru- 
ments of music had not invaded the 
Presbyterian churches to any great 
extent outside of the cities ; and, as 
Dr. Matoon still entertained some 
qualms of conscience on the subject 
of instrumental music in church 
services, no one had as yet the hardi- 
hood to break through this barrier 
of Scotch positiveness, although the 
Psalms of David, by Eouse, had to 
some extent given place to the more 
rhythmatic songs of Watt. 


WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER ? 73 

With great solemnity the doctor 
expounded the nature and obliga- 
tions of the compact into which the 
parties before him were about to 
enter, and then gravely asked the 
questions and pronounced the words 
that made Eoger Duncan and Mary 
Belden husband and wife. Then 
clasping their joined hands in his 
palms he lifted his eyes and rever- 
ently and fervently invoked heaven’s 
richest blessing up« n the union there 
consummated. 

At the close of the simple ceremony, 
and after receiving the congratula- 
tions of the invited friends present, 
Roger Duncan and his wife entered 
the waiting carriage and were driven 
to the city of Richmond, where they 
embarked on one of the primitive 
river steamers that in those days 
plied between that city and the 
greater ocean ports. John Belden 
accompanied them to the wharf, and 
as the little steamer, with much 


74 WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER? 

puffing, backed out into the river 
and then headed toward the Atlantic, 
he waved his mother and foster- 
father and friend a parting adieu, 
and, until shut from view by a bend 
in the river, he stood watching the 
little craft with its precious freight. 

Eoger Duncan was now fully 
launched on his long-contemplated 
voyage, and John Belden, young in 
years, but well equipped for his 
duties, was sole ; lanager of all his 
estates. Eeturning to the mills, he 
at once entered upon the duties of 
the management and threw into his 
work all the energy of his young 
manhood. With the other employes 
he was on most familiar terms. 
Many of them had known him from 
childhood, and held in grateful mem- 
ory their old superintendent, his 
father. He studied incessantly, and 
soon was familiar with every detail 
of his work. 

The products of the furnaces and 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 75 

mills were as carefully wrought and 
marketed as they could have been 
under the experienced administrative 
hand of their owner. Days, weeks, 
and months passed, and were rapidly 
lengthening into a year, and Eoger 
Duncan’s honeymoon had not waned, 
nor the pleasurable enjoyment of 
sight-seeing in the gay, somber, or 
weird cities of the old world lessened. 
Being a business man and all his life 
long an employer of labor, he visited 
the principal manufacturing centers 
of France and Germany, examining 
with great care the various methods 
of employment of laborers and the 
condition of the employed. At Be- 
laire, in France, he was wonderfully 
impressed with the results of the 
system of employment of operatives 
in the manufacturing establishment 
of M. Beauchereau. 

The streets of unpretentious but 
neat and tidy homes ; the happy and 
contented occupants ; the industry 


76 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 

and thrift of the employed ; the 
order, neatness, and care displayed 
in and about tlie vast workshops 
made a deep impression upon his 
mind, and he resolved, by a personal 
interview with the proprietor, to 
know fully his methods and the 
history of his wonderful success. 

Calling at the office of the works, 
he was cordially received by M. 
Beauchereau, who, extending his 
hand in welconde and bidding his 
visitor be seated, said : 

“ I had been informed that an 
American manufacturer of your 
name was stopping at the St. Cloud, 
and I have very much desired your 
acquaintance. Of late I have been 
much interested in your country, 
having read several articles in the 
Trade Review on your manufactur- 
ing industries and your wonderful 
mineral resources.” 

“And I, too, have been very much 
interested in those of your country,” 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 77 

replied Mr. Duncan, and particu- 
larly in your own establishments, 
and have called this morning, not 
only to make your acquaintance, but 
to learn from you the history of 
your methods of employment of 
operatives. ” 

The operatives in these works I 
hardly regard in the light of mere 
employes,” remarked M. Beauchereau 
in reply, ‘^but rather g^ea5^-partners, 
as each operative {s' a profit-sharer, 
and, in case of losses, a sharer in 
those as well.” 

Ah, I comprehend. Your works 
are conducted on the co-operative 
principle.” 

‘^Not exactly, and yet largely so, 
the difference mainly being that the 
absolute title to all the property re- 
mains in me ; also the exclusive man- 
agement and superintendency. This 
is not the case, as you know, in a 
purely co-operative concern.” 

Your arrangement is quite novel. 


78 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 

Will you kindly give me the history 
of it — how you came to devise the 
system, and the plan in detail ? ” 

Certainly, with pleasure. The 
system is not original with me, at 
least not altogether so. Other man- 
ufacturers, both in France and Ger- 
many, had, to some extent, tried the 
experiment of distribution of profits 
among their workmen, and always 
with happy results. As to its history, 
in so far as it applies to my works, 
that can be easily and quickly told. 
I was a manufacturer having in my 
employ many people, and, of course, 
as all manufacturers can testify from 
their own personal experience, I was 
harassed and perplexed with strikes 
and the thousand other annoyances 
of the employer’s life, not least 
among which was the constant 
changing (going and coming) of 
operators. Then there was the care- 
lessness and lack of interest so com- 
mon in great workshops like these, 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 79 

often entailing considerable loss. I 
was impressed, in consequence, with 
the thought that some system could 
be devised that would to a great ex- 
tent obviate most of these evils. My 
first thought was : How can these 
people be so interested in their work 
that there shall be more stability and 
less carelessness ? I did not favor 
the plan of co-operation. In that 
there are too many ^ heads, , each co- 
operator having an' equal voice in 
the management. A workshop is 
much like a ship at sea. One man, 
tried and competent, must have ab- 
solute control, else she will founder 
or sink upon the rocks. Again, the 
co-operative plan would involve the 
turning over of the property to the 
co-operators, and that was not to be 
considered, for, as you know, labor- 
ing men as a rule are without capital 
other than their labor.” 

How do you settle the question 
of profits ? ” asked Mr. Duncan. 

/ 


80 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

“A division of profits, or as we 
term it, profit-sharing, it seemed to 
me, would best meet all these dif- 
ficulties and not have the disadvan- 
tages I have mentioned incident to 
co-operation, and after careful con- 
sideration by myself and employes, 
was put upon trial, with the results 
you see. The plan adopted was, in 
brief, this : I owned the works, esti- 
mated value so much. Upon the 
invested capital it was agreed that I 
was entitled to a reasonable interest, 
say the same interest allowed upon 
government securities. For my ser- 
vices for management of the works I 
was allowed a reasonable salary ; a 
scale of wages to each operative was 
agreed upon, both salary and wages 
to he paid semi-monthly. At the 
expiration of each quarter (three 
months) the books were balanced, 
and any profits remaining, after de- 
ducting interest on capital, salary, 
wages, and necessary repairs to the 


WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER ? 81 

works, was divided into three equal 
parts. One of these thirds was set 
apart as a contingent fund to meet 
any possible losses or reverses in con- 
ducting the business, in addition to 
repair account ; one-third was dis- 
tributed pro rata among the oper- 
atives on the basis of their wage 
scale ; and the remaining third was 
my share of the profits. This agree- 
ment was entered into for one year 
as an experiment, aAd so good were 
the practical results that it has been 
continued without interruption, and 
I know of none who desire to aban- 
don it and return to the wage system 
of former times.” 

I am indeed much interested in 
what you have told me, M. Beauche- 
reau,” said Mr. Duncan, ‘^and now 
I would be pleased to know the par- 
ticular moral effects of your plan, if 
any, upon the operatives.” 

‘^The moral effect has been ex- 
cellent, better than I even dared hope 


82 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 

for. The operatives seemed to com- 
prehend fully their responsibility, 
and were stimulated to the exercise 
of greater carefulness in the use 
of material and machinery, and to 
avoiding loss of time. In these three 
respects I am confident that at least 
ten per cent was added to our profits. 
These I regard as moral results, for 
whatever will lead men to consider, 
is moral. And then, on the higher 
plane, intemperance is almost un- 
known, for the sober and industrious 
will not long tolerate an operative 
who wastes his time and energies in 
the debauch.” 

“Have you had occasion to over- 
draw your reserve fund at any time ? ” 
queried Mr. Duncan. 

“The third set apart as a reserve 
has proved amply sufiBcient to meet 
all contingencies. Indeed, during a 
period of five years of continuous 
profit-making, we have found it ad- 
visable to fix a maximum limit to 


WHICH WAY, sms, THE BETTER ? 83 

that fund and declare an extra 
dividend.” 

‘^Are the operatives disposed to 
acquire property — own their homes ? ” 

‘‘Most of them now are owners 
of their homes. I have encouraged 
them to this step, knowing the ad- 
vantage, both to myself and them, 
of their so doing. Chiefly they have 
purchased on the instalment plan of 
small monthly or quarterly pay- 
ments. This has enabled them, out 
of their savings, in a few years to 
acquire a title to their homes in fee, 
and has contributed very much to 
their benefit in every way, for the 
man that owns in his own right a 
plot of ground, however small, is, 
you know, just that much more a 
man. There is nothing, outside of 
religion, that so uplifts and ennobles a 
man as the possession of property.” 

“ I certainly have been very much 
entertained and instructed by what 
you have said, and shall not soon for- 


84 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

get your kindness in giving your valu- 
able time to make this explanation 
to me. I leave for Paris to-morrow, 
and will soon sail for America, and 
shall always recur to this interview 
with great pleasure,’’ said Mr. Dun- 
can, rising to go. 

I am only too sorry that your 
visit is so short. I should be de- 
lighted if you could prolong it, and 
would have been pleased to have 
heard from you something more of 
your wonderful country. But I 
hope this will not be your last visit 
to our beautiful France, and that 
we shall meet again,” answered M. 
Beauchereau, and, bowing Mr. Dun- 
can to the door, hade him adieu. 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 85 


CHAPTER V. 

FIRE, SMOKE, AND ASHES. 

It was after twelve o’clock on a cold 
December night. The loud and rapid 
clanging of the mill bell, the hurry- 
ing feet of belated villagers along the 
dark and uneven streets, and the 
shrill cry of Fire ! Fire !” awak- 
ened the citizens of Powhatan, and 
brought them to the doors and win- 
dows of every residence and cottage 
of the village. The scene that met 
their startled gaze was one of magnif- 
icent grandeur. The whole heavens 
were illuminated, and the scurrying 
winter clouds, driven by the fitful 
gusts of wind across the sky, refiected 
back the glow of the flames that, 


86 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 

amid upward rolling clouds of dens- 
est smoke, leaped heavenward. That 
a fire of no ordinary proportions was 
in full progress was apparent to 
everyone, and soon it was well known 
to all that the mills and shops of the 
Duncan Iron Works were rapidly suc- 
cumbing to the fiery element. 

Men of all stations rushed from 
their homes half clad and hurried to 
the mills to render what assistance 
they could to stay the flames, while 
women and children, helpless, pale, 
and shivering, stood waiting in the 
cold night air. Willing hands 
worked manfully on the old and 
creaking hand-engine, while others 
carried water in whatever vessels 
came to hand ; but all to no purpose. 
The huge timbers that supported the 
structure soon yielded to the devour- 
ing flames, and, tottering, bending, 
fell, bearing with them girders, 
rafters, and roof, into the seething 
furnace of fire beneath. 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 87 

Seeing that no headway was being 
made in staying the flames, the men, 
one by one, ceased their efforts and 
stood about thoughtful, silent, and 
grave, viewing this holocaust of their 
hopes of daily bread. Lower and 
lower the Are burned, revealing by 
the dull glow and fitful flashes, the 
towering chimneys, the only standing 
monuments of the Duncan Iron 
Works, while at their bases, warped 
and twisted by the intense heat, lay 
the debris of unfinished work, tools, 
and machinery. 

At the first alarm John Belden 
rushed to the office, then in flames, 
and amid a shower of falling sparks 
and cinders, burst open the doors, 
collected all the important books and 
papers and had them carried to a 
place of safety. It was but the work 
of a few moments, and an instant 
afterwards the building swayed and 
toppled to the ground, a mass of hiss- 
ing embers. 


88 ‘WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

The morning dawned, leaden and 
cold, in fitting harmony with the 
hearts of the army of workingmen 
and their wives and children. The 
mills in which they had toiled and 
earned their daily bread, and from 
which they hoped for their future 
support, lay before their eyes a black- 
ened, ruined mass of smoldering de- 
bris. To the proprietor, with the in- 
surance policies, wherefrom he might 
hope for at least a partial return of 
his losses, the burning of his mills 
might not be accounted a great ca- 
lamity; but to the laborer and his 
family, wholly dependent on his daily 
toil, it was indeed an irreparable loss, 
for whither should he turn for a new 
field of labor and sustenance for those 
dependent ones ? Well might Nero, 
the cruel and profligate, fiddle with 
complacency at the burning of his 
palaces. These were his toys ; but to 
the toiling plebeian, the destruction 
of his cot, which stood in the palatial 


WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER ? 89 

shadows, was the loss of his all. 
And yet how often and how heroic- 
ally and uncomplainingly are these 
disasters borne by the great mass of 
laborers who throng our workshops, 
and of whom few take account, lav- 
ishing instead their sympathies upon 
the wealthier proprietors. 

It was apparent that nothing re- 
mained to be done by the young su- 
perintendent except gather from the 
ruins the scrap, make the proper 
proofs of loss to the insurance com- 
panies, pay the employes their wages, 
communicate with Mr. Duncan, who 
was still abroad, and abide his instruc- 
tions, In those days of slow stage- 
coaching, inferior rail service, slower 
sailing vessels, or at best the embryo 
steamships, communication by letter 
required time. There were no cable 
lines for the rapid transmission of 
news, no fast mail service that by 
rail and White Star lines would bear 
the news within a week to yonder dis- 


90 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

tant shores. There was nothing to 
be done, however great the emer- 
gency, but to sit with folded hands 
and wait, wait. 

Week after week passed, and no 
tidings from Mr. Duncan. Daily the 
lumbering stage-coach crept up the 
steep village street, stopped at the 
post-office, and discharged its sack of 
meager mail. The driver, perched 
on the lofty seat with whip in hand, 
gossiped with the usual crowd that 
stood or sat listlessly about the village 
tavern door, of the latest city news, 
or cracked with them his latest joke 
while waiting the changing of the 
mail. At length the postmaster, that 
chief functionary of every village 
cross-roads, would come out with the 
slender sack and carelessly cast it on 
the footboard, then Jehu, drawing 
tautly the slackened rains and crack- 
ing his whip over the leaders’ heads, 
would go lumbering down the stony 
street, and the villagers would again 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 91 

relapse into their accustomed state of 
inertia. 

John Belden was always first at the 
post-office, but to the eager inquiry 
for news from Mr. Duncan by the 
bystanders his reply was invariably 
“No word.” But as there must be 
an end to all things, so to this wait- 
ing. The stage at last brought a 
letter from Mr. Duncan, but, alas ! 
not encouraging to the citizens of 
Powhatan. It ran as follows : 

“Paris, January 10, 18 — 
“My dear John : 

“ Your letter informing me of the 
destruction by fire of the works just 
received. I do not mourn the loss. 
The machinery was much worn and 
not modern. The facilities for trans- 
portation are very insufficient in 
these days of sharp competition. I 
shall never rebuild at the old site. 
Please collect insurance, gather and 
sell the scrap as best you can, close 
up all business transactions, and 
wait my return. Yours cordially, 

“ Roger Duncan.” 


92 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

The announcement of the contents 
of this letter was the death-knell of 
the village. Nothing remained for 
the workmen to do but to seek other 
places of employment. Merchants 
closed out their stocks, and sought 
other fields more inviting. 

A few years wrought a wonderful 
change in the village. Weather- 
beaten, dilapidated, and untenanted 
houses and decay everywhere ; a few 
mouldering bricks and piles of stone 
and rubbish, partly concealed with 
rankly-growing weeds, marked the 
site of the once prosperous Duncan 
Iron Works. Who in traveling 
through the country has not seen 
such sights ? A turn of the wheel of 
fortune, just such as we have de- 
scribed, has blasted the future or 
stimulated the development of many 
an embyro city ; has multiplied a 
hundredfold, or wrecked, many a 
promising investment. 


WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER? 93 


CHAPTER VI. 

RESURRECTION. 

In the month of May following the 
burning of the mills, Mr. Duncan 
and his wife returned to New York. 
John Belden was on the wharf to 
meet and welcome them. Upon 
landing they were at once driven to 
the St. Nicholas Hotel, where suites 
of rooms had been engaged, and 
where in privacy they could talk 
over the scenes and incidents of their 
journey, and their plans for the 
future, without molestation by in- 
quisitive neighbors. 

After a few days of pleasant inter- 
course, rest, and recuperation from 
the fatigue of their sea- voyage, Mr. 
Duncan said to John: ^^I think I 


94 WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER? 

shall make this city, or some place 
conveniently near, my future home. 
My life is well advanced, I have a 
competency, and I do not desire 
again to enter into the activities of 
a business life ; and yet I do not 
wish to be wholly idle ; just enough 
business to afford me a stimulus is 
all I wish ; but as for you, I very 
much wish to know your plans for 
the future, if you have thought of 
any.” 

Of course I have thought much 
of what I should do, or rather of 
what I should wish to do, since the 
burning of the mills. There is book- 
keeping. I understand that, also 
engineering and surveying to some 
extent ; but I would prefer a position 
as manager of iron works,’’ replied 
John. 

‘‘The successful manner in which 
you managed my works convinces 
me of your ability to conduct a 
similar business on a much more 


WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTEK? 95 

extensive scale,” answered Mr. Dun- 
can, ‘^and I have thought that an 
investment of a part of my capital in 
an enterprise of that character, with 
you as the active partner and in charge, 
would he likely to prove a profitable 
undertaking, provided a proper loca- 
tion could be secured.” 

have in mind just such a 
location,” said John. ‘‘In one of 
our engineering expeditions, while in 
college, into the mc^hntain regions of 
Pennsylvania, I came upon it ; since 
that time parties have partially de- 
veloped the mines, and the work has 
sufficiently progressed to demonstrate 
the quality and quantity of coal and 
ore ; and the facilities for shipping, 
both by rail and water, are excel- 
lent.” 

“Give the matter your earliest at- 
tention, then,” replied Mr. Duncan. 
“ When can you go ? ” 

“I am at liberty to go at any 
time.” 


96 WHICH WAY, SIBS, THE BETTER ? 

“ Then make your preparations 
and go at once, and if you find every- 
thing suitable, purchase ; but re- 
member, my name, under no circum- 
stances, is to be known in the enter- 
prise.” 

From this and similar conversations 
and consultations and action thereon, 
in the narration of which the reader 
would have little interest, sprang the 
great steel and iron plant of John 
Bel den and tho prosperous and 
growing town of Beldendale, the scene 
of the opening chapter of this story. 

One incident in this history of the 
early life of John Belden must not 
be omitted. During the absence of 
Mr. and Mrs. Duncan in Europe, a 
pair of kindly eyes had looked 
lovingly into his, and his heart had 
as lovingly and tenderly responded ; 
and soon after his establishment in 
Beldendale a young bride came to 
grace the new home of the popular 
proprietor, and around his hearth- 


WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER? 97 

stone came, in the passing years 
of unalloyed happiness, four treas- 
ures of their love to entwine their 
hearts and cement their affections 
in advancing years — two girls and 
two boys — ‘‘an even divide,” John 
playfully remarked. And indeed a 
happier home, supplied with every 
convenience and luxury that wealth 
could command, could not be found 
in all the country. It was the 
admiration of all, the pride of the 
well-wishing villager, and alas ! too, 
the envy of the vicious and depraved. 

7 


98 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 


CHAPTER VII. 

THE MEETING OF THE KNIGHTS. 

When Michael Durant ascended 
the stairs leading to the hall, the 
place of meeting of Assembly No. 10, 
he found it already packed to suffoca- 
tion, and elbowing his way through 
the crowd he took a position near 
the seat of the presiding officer, that 
he might the more carefully note all 
that passed. Let us look for a mo- 
ment into the faces of the men com- 
posing the assembly. Some are re- 
spectably and cleanly clad ; others 
are in shirt sleeves, and without evi- 
dence of change of garments from 
the workshop ; some are washed and 
shaven ; others are as grim and sooted 


WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER ? 99 

as when they left the mills and 
forges ; some are grave, sober, and 
thoughtful ; others are flushed, ex- 
cited, and even boisterous ; some bear 
evidences of no mean order of intelli- 
gence, scholarship, and reflnement ; 
others are brutish, ignorant, and un- 
couth. Here is the native American, 
the Irishman, German, and Swede, 
with here and there a Hungarian 
and a dark son of Italy — a strange 
medley of humanity with few sym- 
pathies or tastes in common, drawn 
together and in association for but 
one purpose and upon but one ques- 
tion. In such an assembly of diver- 
sity of education and training, how 
difficult for reason to have sway, or 
intelligence to control ! Reason, alas ! 
under such circumstances, is too 
often drowned in ignorance, intelli- 
gence bogged in stupidity, and ques- 
tions of the greatest import decided 
by petty jealousies. 

The presiding officer, after long 


100 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 

effort, enforced by vigorous thump- 
ings upon a table that served the 
purpose of a secretary’s desk, and 
repeated appeals to the more boister- 
ous, finally succeeded in obtaining a 
degree of order and attention, and 
proceeded to state the special object 
of this meeting. This chief function- 
ary, as is too often the case in assem- 
blies where a free ballot governs, 
was not one of the most intelligent 
of the membership, yet he was the 
possessor of a shrewdness that en- 
abled him to see the drift of the tide 
and keep his craft afloat in the cur- 
rent of popular favor. He had suffi- 
cient viciousness to make him popu- 
lar with the vicious. To satisfy his 
ambition he would not hesitate to 
make himself popular with the boys 
by a liberal patronage of Schlausser’s 
saloon, or own and reverently occupy 
a pew in the church to win the 
respect or at least the toleration of 
the moral and religious. In fact he 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 101 

was a politician, the prototype of 
many found to-day in more exalted 
places of trust and profit. During 
the day he had. freely circulated 
among his fellow-workmen, and 
without committing himself had 
learned the sentiment of the more 
influential of them in regard to the 
proposed reduction of wages, conse- 
quently was quite able to speak and 
act on the convening of the assem- 
bly. He spoke with quite an accent 
of the “ Mother-Country,” whose 
allegiance he had at the first oppor- 
tunity abjured. 

^‘Gentlemen,” he said, ^^wullye’s 
lis’en. Ye’s committee ” (accent on 
the last syllable) has called ye’s to- 
gether on very important business. 
Ye’s have seen the notices up in the 
mills, sayin’ that ye’s must be takin’ 
less wages. Now it’s for ye’s to 
spake yer moin’s. Es fur me, an’ I’m 
a-thinkin’ I’m spakin’ the moin^s of a 
mojority of ye’s (if mistakin I’ll stand 


102 WHICH WAY, sms, THE BETTER? 

corrected), I’m a^makin’ no sich con- 
cessions.” 

^^Faix, an’ that’s me moind,” 
shouted Patrick Murphy. 

^^Hould yer tongue, ye blatherin’ 
fool, while I’m a-spakin’. I was a- 
sayin’ to ye’s whin interrupted, I’m 
a-makin’ no sich concessions. If 
John Bildin can’t run his mills with- 
out a-grindin’ tin per cint off’n me 
wages the ould machine may stand 
till kingdom cum. Now, what does 
ye’s say ? ” And having thus de- 
livered himself he resumed the chair 
of government. 

That the master had spoken the 
sentiments of a majority of those 
present was evident from the ap- 
plause and expressions of approval 
that greeted his speech from all quar- 
ters of the room, and it was apparent 
to the most casual observer that he 
who would stem this torrent of senti- 
ment must possess the tact and ad- 
dress of a Mark Antony. 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 103 

After the first ebullition of the 
talkative had somewhat subsided, 
Michael Durant, who had patiently 
waited his opportunity, stepped to 
the front and addressed the chair- 
man. Michael’s appearance was re- 
ceived with shouts and other noisy 
demonstrations of recognition, for in 
the six years of his life in the mills of 
Beldendale he had made many friends 
among his fellow-workmen. For a 
moment he calmly surveyed the as- 
sembly, taking in the situation and 
collecting his thoughts, then said : 

fully appreciate the situation 
and the importance of the action we 
may take to-night in the matter 
before us, and its probable effect 
upon our interests as working-men. 
For six years I have worked in these 
mills, and have known many of you 
for a much longer time, and I regret 
very much the occasion of our being 
called together. Of one thing I am 
confident we must all testify, and 


104 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

that is to the uniform kindness of Mr. 
Belden toward us in the years past. 
I think I know something of the 
history of the man, left an orphan 
at an early age, and who, as a poor 
boy, earned his living by working 
in a mill. He is, therefore, not a 
stranger to the wants of a working- 
man, and, I believe, in his prosperity, 
he has not forgotten them.’’ 

An upstart, nothin’ but an up- 
start ; where did he git his monny ? ” 
shouted Patrick Murphy. 

Shut your trap, you beer-logged 
fool ! ” answered another to this in- 
terruption. 

Order ! ” demanded the chair- 
man. 

^^Yes, order ! order !” shouted a 
dozen voices in unison. 

Michael proceeded: ‘^This is the 
first time since I came here that a 
reduction has been asked. Payment 
of wages has been always promptly 
made, often at great personal incon- 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 105 

venience to Mr. Belden, and I cannot 
but believe that this reduction would 
not be asked were it not that some 
stress of circumstances demanded it, 
and of which we are ignorant. I 
move, therefore, that a committee 
be appointed to confer with Mr. 
Belden in this matter.” 

These words of Michael, delivered 
with calmness, had to some extent 
soothed the turbulency of the assem- 
bly. The motion was seconded by 
two or three of the more conservative 
members. 

Ye’s hear the motion for the ap- 
pointment of a committee,” said the 
chairman. What’s the wull of the 
assembly ? ” 

Away wid yer committees ; that’s 
just a trap. We’ll attind to our own 
matters,” came a voice. 

^^If the ould man’s in a pinch let 
him say so, and we’re the b’yes that’ll 
help him out,” remarked another. 

^‘Let him show up his books and 


106 WHICH WAY, SIBS, THE BETTER? 

then we’ll know more about it, and 
not ask us to take his word for every- 
thing,” chimed in a third. 

“Yes, show the books, show the 
books, that’s the talk,” came a chorus 
of voices. 

“ Gintlemin, Oi favor the com- 
mittee, and they can see about the 
books. All that’s in favor of the 
motion say aye,” shouted the chair- 
man. 

A chorus of “Ayes ” followed. 

“Those opposed, the same sign.” 

Another chorus of “Ayes.” 

“ The motion is carried.” And then 
quickly proceeding, without giving 
opportunity for a call for division, 
the chairman announced the names 
of the committee, and declared the 
assembly adjourned, thus cutting off 
further chance for discussion. 

The members, so unceremoniously 
dismissed, clambered down the nar- 
row and unlighted hallway to the 
street, some going directly home- 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 107 

wards, others gathering in groups on 
the sidewalk, excitedly discussing the 
proceedings, while others repaired to 
the saloon of Johannes Schlausser 
to quench their thirst in numerous 
potations of foaming beer, and over 
their glasses to discuss the probable 
outcome. 

^^Vat you do mit der meedin’?” 
queried Johannes, as he filled and set 
upon the counter the schooners of 
frothy beverage. 

Faix, and we ’pinted a commit- 
tee,’’ replied Patrick Murphy. 

Oh, yah, yah ; you nix aple to 
tend mit your own pizness,” con- 
temptuously answered Johannes. 

Dot vas Shon Bel den’s leetle set up. 
Shon vas von scharp veller. He 
vonts to take avay your peer ; he 
vonts to take avay your proat ; he 
vonts to pee von leetle king mit Bel- 
dendale, shust like King Villiam. I 
specks he’ll take avay your vurniture 
and dings, for rent for dem leetle 


108 WHICH WAT, SIES, THE BETTER ? 

houses vat yous lives in, de nex’ ding; ” 
and Johannes gave a low, contemp- 
tuous chuckle, the poison of which 
rankled in the hearts of his besotted 
listeners and patrons. 

“Not be a long soight,” retorted 
Patrick. “His ould mills will be 
gutted and his pig-pens of houses 
burned to the ground if he attimpts 
that little game, an’ every mither’s 
son of us, and Bridget too, wull stand 
to the backs of us and loight the’r 
poips at the foir.” 

“ Aw, veil, you vus notings but von 
pack of cowards, any vay ; all ‘ dock 
un nix vool,’ und ven Shon Belden’s 
bolice cumes ’round mit der Vin- 
chester shotguns you shust runs like 
sheeps ; dot’s vat you does ; ” and 
Johannes chuckled again as he filled 
the empty glasses, chalking them 
down on his convenient slate. 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 109 


CHAPTER VIII. 

THE STRIKE. 

The day following the meeting of 
Assembly No. 10, work at the mills 
went on as usual. No sign of brew- 
ing trouble could be seen about the 
works, yet there was a certain reserve 
in the actions of the workmen and 
an absence of the customary hilarity 
common about such places among the 
men that was quite observable. Mr. 
Belden was early at the office of the 
works, earlier than usual, and there 
was an air of expectancy about him, 
for he had been apprised of the action 
of the meeting of the preceding night. 

Early in the day the committee 
called and were received with due 
courtesy. After passing the usual 


110 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

compliments Mr. Belden smoothed 
the way to the business upon which 
they had called by remarking, I am 
informed that your Assembly has 
taken some steps at its meeting last 
evening regarding my notices of the 
reduction of wages.” 

Yes,” replied the chairman and 
spokesman of the committee, ‘^and 
we are here to talk the matter over 
with you. The assembly is unani- 
mous not to submit to the proposed 
reduction unless satisfied that it is 
absolutely necessary by reason ,of 
your financial inability to continue 
the works.” 

^^You are doubtless aware,” Mr. 
Belden answered; that the iron 
market is exceedingly dull and money 
close, and much of our manufactured 
product has to be carried often for 
months before it can be sold. If you 
do not know this all you have to do 
is look about the mills and know the 
facts from observation. And often 


WHICH WAY, SIBS, THE BETTEB? Ill 

when sales are made, paper must be 
taken in payment, running on long 
time, and to be realized upon requires 
heavy discounts.” 

‘^We are aware of the truth of 
much you say,” replied the chair- 
man, but the general opinion is 
that these works have been very 
successfully run, that the profits 
have been large, and that the pro- 
posed reduction is entirely uncalled 
for, and your mere general statement 
will not satisfy the men to the con- 
trary.” 

What additional proof do they 
require than the statement I have 
made ? ” queried Mr. Belden. 

^^An inspection of your hooks by 
competent men,” replied the chair- 
man. 

^^An inspection of my books? 
That is a demand extraordinary. 
Why, no court in Christendom, in 
even a legal proceeding, would enter- 
tain, much less grant such a demand 


112 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

when made by parties not in interest. 
My books are my records of my ac- 
counts and dealings with other par- 
ties, purchasers of my products, and 
sellers to me of stock and supplies. 
These are my private affairs, and if 
that is the condition of your continu- 
ing to work it is useless for further 
conference. I have always sought to 
deal honorably with you, often to 
my detriment, and if my word of 
honor is not sufficient, then the 
sooner we know it the better. Is this 
demand your ultimatum ? ’’ 

This is, as we are instructed, the 
demand of the union, as these gentle- 
men with me will bear witness.’’ 

‘^Then your union is making a 
condition that, I can assure you, will 
never be submitted to as long as I 
run these works, and, until modified, 
further conference is useless. So 
good-day, gentlemen ; ” and waving 
his hand toward the door as an inti- 
mation that further parley was use- 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 113 

less, Mr. Belden turned to his desk 
and resumed his interrupted work. 

At the next meeting of the assem- 
bly the committee made their report 
of their interview with Mr. Belden, 
minutely detailing all that passed. 

^^The ould man’s a-puttin’ on airs. 
We’ll be after givin’ him a chance to 
know where his money comes from 
before anither month rolls round,” 
remarked Patrick Murphy ; and 
every particular red hair on his head 
seemed to stand more erect with de- 
fiance. 

We’ll teach the gentleman man- 
ners the next time we send a com- 
mittee to call.” 

The popinjay ! I wonder if he’s 
a-thinkin’ money’s everything, and 
muscle counts for nothing ; we’ll 
teach him different before this little 
affair is settled.” 

‘ ‘ He’s soon forgot his early trainin’, 
an’ that his father was a workin’- 
mon.” 

8 


114 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

Such were some of the audible 
comments that greeted the commit- 
tee’s report. 

Michael Durant and others of the 
more conservative members urged 
further negotiations, but in vain ; 
their entreaties were overwhelmed in 
the rising tide of indignation of the 
more excitable, and all thought of 
possible arbitration or adjustment 
was soon abandoned, and a strike 
was inevitable. Daily the amicable 
relation of employer and employ^ 
became more constrained. As Mr. 
Belden made his accustomed daily 
rounds through the works, visiting 
and inspecting each department, the 
pleasant nods and greetings, the 
laughs and jokes of familiarity and 
good will, became fewer. The men 
only spoke as they were spoken to. 
The signs were ominous ; the very 
air of the place seemed pervaded with 
the spirit that infected the work- 
men. 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 115 

At last the fatal first of September 
dawned. compromise/’ was 

writtcin on every face. The fires 
were drawn, the furnaces banked, the 
tools laid away, and silently the 
workmen withdrew from the mills ; 
and then and there began a contest 
between employer and employe that 
was destined to continue through 
the long fall and winter months. 
Labor had cast down the gauntlet, 
and capital had accepted the chal- 
lenge to a battle for supremacy that 
endurance alone should determine. 
Both sides counted the costs and 
buckled themselves for the contest. 

Mr. Belden cancelled all possible con- 
tracts that he could not fill by manu- 
factured material on hand or by sub- 
stitution of other parties, and meta- 
phorically trimmed his ship and 
cleared his decks for action. 

The Knights counted the funds in 
their treasury, communicated with 
their brother Knights, and received 


116 WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER ? 

their assurance of substantial aid in 
the impending struggle. 

The hum of industry ceased, and 
the banners of smoke, pillars of cloud 
by day and fire by night, no longer 
overshadowed the village and valley 
and gave their tokens of business 
activity. Men walked listlessly about 
the streets, employing their time in 
idle gossiping, or worse, loitered in 
and about the saloon of Johannes 
Schlausser, poisoning their bodies, 
emptying their pockets, and filling 
their minds with the anarchistic 
ideas of the proprietor. 

As time dragged its weary days 
along, the men became more and 
more nervous, and as, day by day, 
their own small savings grew less 
and less, and the local treasury of the 
assembly was becoming depleted, 
restlessness took the place of listless- 
ness. Madam Rumor was always 
busy, and stories of the employment 
of others to take their places in the 


WHICH WAY, SIBS, THE BETTER? 117 

mills were in almost daily circula- 
tion. Every movement about the 
mills was watched with anxious care, 
and Mr. Belden’s steps were con- 
stantly dogged by lynx-eyed detect- 
ives. He could not ride out in his 
carriage, take the train for the 
neighboring city, walk the village 
streets, go to and from his office, or 
talk with his chance friends except 
under the shadow of a constant sur- 
veillance. Even the privacy of his 
fireside was invaded ; his domestics 
and man of all work, they of his own 
household, became eavesdroppers and 
reporters of his every word and ac- 
tion. A system of guards and look- 
outs was organized, and every 
thoroughfare in the village, whether 
by rail, river, or public road, was 
watched and guarded with the closest 
vigilance. Strangers visiting the 
town, whether on business or plea- 
sure, were stopped and interrogated ; 
and if, perchance, they became indig- 


118 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

nant at such wanton interference in 
their private affairs, they were ad- 
vised to leave the place under a 
threat of personal violence. 

Neither was Mr. Belden inactive. 
Men schooled in all the arts of decep- 
tion, as he who would be a success- 
ful detective must be, circulated free- 
ly among the men, talked blatantly 
of the wrongs of workingmen, 
wormed themselves into the good 
graces of the unwary toilers, be- 
numbed their faculties with beer, 
loosened their tongues with joke and 
jest, and then, with cool deliberation, 
wrung from their helpless victims, 
by well-directed questioning, every 
purpose of their union and secret of 
the lodge. 

Thus like two gladiators standing 
face to face, seeking by every art and 
stratagem to gain and hold the advan- 
tage, these twin brothers of prosper- 
ity, labor and capital, sought each the 
other’s discomfiture and overthrow. 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTEK? 119 


CHAPTER IX. 

TEMPTED AND TRIED. 

One November evening John Belden 
sat in his office busily conning over 
books and papers. Some contracts 
that he had made before the inaugura- 
tion of the strike, and which he then 
thought could be placed with other 
firms, he had found could not be so 
easily disposed of. The proprietors 
of other works, while willing to take 
the contracts, discovered that their 
employes were on the alert and 
threatened a strike, or refusal to 
work, on any contract that their 
employers might make for the pur- 
pose of relieving the Beldendale 
works, and the prospects of suits for 
accruing damages for their non-ful- 


120 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

fillment was not a pleasant theme for 
Mr. Belden’s contemplation. While 
he sat meditating, the shades of even- 
ing gathered over valley and village. 
Eising from his desk he struck a 
light, then, hoisting the windows, 
closed the shutters with extra care. 
These precautions taken against any 
possible lurking intruders, he re- 
sumed his seat and continued his 
work. With the man absorbed in 
business, time passes swiftly. Look- 
ing at his watch, Mr. Belden was 
surprised to see that it was past 
eleven o’clock. 

Eleven o’clock and Barney not 
here ! He must have extra business 
on hand,” he remarked to himself. 

Just then there was a slight tap at 
the front office door. ^ ^ That must be 
Barney, but it’s not his usual way of 
coming ; ” and rising, Mr. Belden 
moved cautiously toward the door. 

Who’s there ?” he demanded. 

A person who wants to see you 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 121 

on particular business,” came the 
answer in low tones from with- 
out. 

A rather late caller for business,” 
responded Mr. Belden. Please pass 
your card into the letter-box.” 

In a moment there was dropped 
through the little aperture a card, 
which Mr. Belden took to the light 
and read : 


Jones & Co., 

Employment Agents. 

J. P. Sharp, Agent, No. — Broadway, 

New York. 

stepping to the door and quietly- 
opening it, Mr Belden bade his late 
visitor enter. 

“I’m happy to meet you, Mr. 
Belden, even under such adverse cir- 
cumstances,” said Mr. Sharp, enter- 
ing the door and extending his 
hand. 

‘ ‘ I can hardly say as much, ” replied 
Mr. Belden, taking the hand of the 


122 WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER? 

stranger mechanically ; ‘^but before 
further conversation let me ask of 
you : have you any additional creden- 
tials? Cards, you know, are easily 
printed, and can be had for the price 
of printing in quantity, and no ques- 
tions asked.’’ 

‘‘ Oh, as to that matter, I am well 
fortified. Here is a letter of .introduc- 
tion from a firm with whom you are, 
doubtless, well acquainted, and will, 
I think, put you at rest.” 

Mr. Sharp handed Mr. Belden a 
letter, which he hastily opened and 
read ; it ran as follows : 

‘‘New York, Nov. — , 18 — . 
“Mr. John Belden, 

“ Dear Sir: 

“This will introduce to you Mr. 
J. P. Sharp, agent for Jones & Co., 
Employment Agents of this city. He 
is perfectly reliable and can probably 
assist you to solve your labor dif- 
ficulties. We are exceedingly anx- 
ious that there shall be no slip in 
the fulfillment of our contract of 


WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER ? 123 

July last for the delivery of steel 
plate, otherwise we shall suffer great 
loss. 

Yours respectfully, 
Worden & Co.” 

Ah, I comprehend ; be seated, 
Mr. Sharp.” 

Mr. Sharp accepted the proffered 
seat and remarked : Judging from 
the difficulties one encounters in 
securing an interview with you, you 
are as carefully guarded as the Czar 
of all the Eussias.” 

Yes,” replied Mr. Belden jocosely, 
my recent employes seem to have a 
watchful regard for my safety, wheth- 
er I remain here or go abroad.” 

Yes, but I fear it is the care 
manifested by the wolf for the lamb,” 
replied Mr. Sharp. But I have only 
a few moments for business. I have 
been so hindered and detained by 
your special friends, and I must re- 
turn to New York by the two o’clock 
express. I have come at the solicita- 


124 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

tion of your friends, Worden & Co., 
to proffer to you the assistance of my 
firm in furnishing you the necessary 
number of men to start your works 
and fill your accumulated orders and 
contracts.” 

I much prefer that my own men 
should do the work,” answered Mr. 
Belden. Most of them are good 
workmen and understand the mills in 
all their departments, and I had hoped 
that ere this they would see that I 
truly wished their welfare and would 
yield to the reduction I asked, and 
which, in the present condition of the 
market, is necessary to keep the mills 
in operation at all.” 

Yes, that is doubtless true, but 
you certainly see the improbability of 
their making the concession 3^ou ask. 
You are aware that they are receiv- 
ing encouragement and finacial aid 
from other unions, and that so long 
as this continues they will remain 
out ; while you are daily running the 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 125 

risk of violating your contracts, and 
being mulcted in heavy damages, 
possibly to your financial ruin.” 

The reasoning of Mr. Sharp and 
the closing sentence of Worden & 
Co.’s letter of introduction were hav- 
ing their infiuence upon Mr. Belden. 

But,” he said, if I bring other 
workmen here and their families it 
will compel me to oust from my ten- 
ant houses their present occupants, 
many of whose wives and children 
would be the innocent sufferers of the 
stubbornness of their husbands and 
fathers. The winter is upon them, 
and the distress it would entail would 
be unbearable to me. No, I cannot 
think of taking such a step, even to 
save myself from the consequence of 
broken contracts.” 

That difficulty can be easily over- 
come,” replied Mr. Sharp. The 
men we will select for your works 
need not be men of families. We 
have a great many to select from, and 


126 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

can have regard to that matter. 
Temporary barracks can be erected 
near the mills, where they can be 
lodged and fed, and thus be much 
more immediately under your control 
than though living in your houses.’’ 

I see the logic of your reasoning,” 
Mr. Belden answered, and the pro- 
babilities are that my own old work- 
men, seeing the futility of continuing 
the strike, may the sooner be willing 
to return to work. At all events, if 
they continue to hold out I shall have 
the consolation of knowing that their 
families will be in no worse condition, 
so far as shelter is concerned, from 
any act of mine. But suppose the 
men should attempt to resist the put- 
ting of others in their places ? Some 
threats of that kind have been re- 
ported to me. In such a case what 
would you suggest ? ” 

Suggest? Why, that matter is 
easily disposed of, and your course of 
action plain. If resistance is attempt- 


WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER ? 127 

ed call upon the proper authority, 
the sheriff of the county, to protect 
you ; forcible resistance is a breach 
of the peace that the local constabul- 
ary are bound to prevent. But I think 
I can suggest a more certain way to 
overcome this possible contingency. 
These local officials are found, in my 
experience, too often to be in sym- 
pathy with the strikers ; or worse, to 
be subservient to them by reason of 
their political power. Votes count, 
you know, and Pat Finnigan's vote 
in the ballot box is just as good in 
the way of carrying an election as 
that of John Belden, and there are a 
hundred Finnigans to one Belden. 
Yes, a better way is to employ of 
some reliable detective agency, such 
as Craft & Craft, of our city, a 
sufficient number of their guards, 
armed detectives, who will, without 
doubt, give you full protection.” 

I hardly think such extreme 
measures need be resorted to : at 


128 WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER ? 

least, I hope not,’’ replied Mr. Belden. 

I do not believe that these men who 
have been in my employ for years, 
and with whom I have in a manner 
associated daily, and toward whom I 
have often had occasion to show my 
personal regard by acts of kindness, 
would resort to violent resistance.” 

You reckon without your host, 
Mr. Belden. If I am to judge of the 
spirit of some of your men whom I 
have met in this village, even in my 
brief stay, on occasion they would 
not hesitate to resort to violence to 
gain their ends. But time is passing, 
and my going must not be delayed. 
Do you wish to contract for the 
men ? ” 

^^You may say to your agency 
that I want at least one hundred 
skilled men to work those depart- 
ments necessary to enable me to fill 
my contracts. An agreement may be 
prepared and sent me stipulating for 
a rate of wages, including board and 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 129 

lodging, not to exceed the wages 
which I proposed to pay my former 
employes. As for the guards, I’ll 
leave that for future consideration, 
dependent upon developments.” 

‘^With that understanding I will 
he going, as it is approaching my 
train time. Good-night, Mr. Belden ; ” 
and Mr. Sharp rose to go. 

Good-night, Mr. Sharp. Give 
Worden & Co. my regards, and say 
their contract shall be complied with 
if it takes all the militia of Penn- 
sylvania to protect me in the effort. 
Good-night.” 

Mr. Sharp stepped hastily out into 
the darkness. Mr. Belden returned 
to his desk, consulted his watch, and 
said to himself, ^^Half-past one, and 
Barney not here. What can be 
detaining him ? ” 

9 


130 WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER? 


CHAPTER X. 

CONSPIRACY. 

After Mr. Sharp’s departure Mr. 
Belden sat in his office thinking over 
the conversation narrated in the pre- 
ceding chapter. He could not tol- 
erate the thought that any of his 
employes could entertain toward 
him a malice sufficient to cause them 
to premeditate personal injury or the 
destruction of his property ; and yet, 
from the import of remarks over- 
heard and reported to him, there was 
sufficient to put him upon his guard. 
His train of thought was at length 
arrested by three distinct raps upon 
the shutter of his office window. He 
rose from his chair, and walking to 
the window, demanded in a low voice 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 131 

who was there. Three low whistles 
were the response. 

^‘Come to the rear door, Barney, 
and I’ll let you in.” 

Quietly unbolting the door, he 
admitted his belated visitor. 

Barney Foy had long been a trusted 
employe of Mr. Belden. Irish by 
birth, he had when a lad emigrated 
to the United States as a stowaway, 
and upon his arrival found the pre- 
carious livelihood of the street urchin 
by selling papers and blacking boots. 
Being of a delicate constitution, he 
could not long withstand the hard- 
ships and exposure of a street waif’s 
life, and soon succumbed to a slow 
fever. Destitute and alone upon the 
streets, Mr. Belden, on the occasion of 
one of his visits to the city, found 
him. Noticing his pale countenance 
and emaciation, he spoke kindly to 
him, and learning of his destitution 
and illness, had him taken to a hos- 
pital for treatment, personally super- 


132 WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTEK ? 

intending his removal, and arrang- 
ing for his proper care. 

Before leaving him Mr. Belden 
said: ‘^Barney, when you get well 
come to Beldendale and I will give 
you employment. I have arranged 
with your physician to pay your rail- 
road fare ; ’’ and shaking the feverish 
hand of the boy, he bade him good- 
bye. 

Two months afterward Barney Foy 
came to Beldendale. Mr. Belden 
gave him employment in his mills, 
and in that employment he grew to 
manhood, and as such became a 
member of Assembly No. 10. When 
the strike came, with the true heart 
of the Irishman, he was loyal to his 
benefactor. He could not forget the 
man who in his hour of sickness and 
need had befriended him. His quick 
wit and ready repartee won him many 
friends among his associates and 
made him a favorite with all. He 
went and came freely among the men, 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 133 

and made himself familiar with all 
their plans and purposes. Knowing 
well that any exhibition of his devo- 
tion to Mr. Be] den would make him an 
object of suspicion, and thus defeat 
his purpose to befriend him, he became 
an ultra agitator among the strikers, 
and was the confidant of the most 
desperate among them. Not even 
Patrick Murphy nor any of his class 
could excel Barney in his denuncia- 
tions of the capitalists, and particu- 
larly of Mr. Belden ; while nightly he 
sought the office of the man whom he 
so roundly abused during the day, and 
faithfully repeated to him all the news 
he had gathered. Unconsciously he 
had become an informer and spy upon 
his fellow- workmen, and so truthful 
were his reports that Mr. Belden soon 
trusted him implicitly. 

^‘Why, Barney, you are a late 
caller. Was there anything special 
that detained you until this hour ? ” 
inquired Mr. Belden. 


134 WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER ? 

“ Something quoite special,” replied 
Barney. “ Oi had a pressin’ invita- 
tion this afternoon to attend a little 
informal gatherin’ this evening which 
Oi thought Oi’d better not refuse, so 
Oi wint.” 

“Ah, an informal gathering! I 
am naturally suspicious of such ; had 
it relation to my affairs ? ” 

“ Quoite a close relation, Mr. Bel- 
den, or Oi would have decloined the 
invitation,” replied Barney. 

“Well, tell me all about it ; don’t 
keep me in suspense ; it is growing 
late.” 

“Well, you see, yesterday after- 
noon Oi were down boy the sa- 
loon, and seein’ a good many of the 
byes in there, Oi dropped in too. 
Paddy Murphy was in there, as usual, 
and cornin’ up to me he says, says 
he : ‘And would you loike to attend 
a little party this evenin’ ? ’ says he. 
Oi says ‘ What party, Paddy ? ’ and he 
says, says he, ‘ A little party some of 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 135 

the byes are gettin’ up out at the 
Milligan Shaft.’ Oisays, ‘It’s a queer 
place for a party ; ony ladies be 
there ? ’ and he says, ‘ No, only gintle- 
min, and perhaps a quart or so of 
Schlausser’sbest, ye know, to enloiven 
the occasion.’ Oi says, ‘Toimes is 
mighty hard, and ould Bilden (ex- 
cuse the language) is a-rubbin’ of it 
in on us, the baste of an aristocrat.’ 
An’ Paddy says, says he, ‘ You are 
one of the byes, and it is for his 
special binifit we are havin’ of the 
party ; ’ and thin Oi was a-gittin’ in- 
terested and Oi says, says Oi, ‘ Oi’ll 
acciptthe invitation ;’ and Paddy says, 
says he, ‘ It’s a koind of masquerade, 
and ye must fix yourself koind of up 
for the occasion, for there’s no tollin’ 
who of ould Bilden’s cops will be a- 
lookin’ about, and a-trying to make 
one of the party ; ’ and Oi says, says 
Oi, ‘ Faith, Paddy an’ Oi’ll be there 
an’ so fixed that ould Satan himself 
wouldn’t know me ; ’ and he says, 


136 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

‘ Mate me here at eight o’clock 
sharp.’ 

“ So I wint, and whin we came to 
the shaft a man stopped us and says, 
‘ Who’s here ? ’ and Paddy says, ‘ La- 
borer ’ (that’s the password, ye know), 
‘ en’ a friend ; ’ and he says, ‘ All 
roight,’ and so we wint down the 
shaft. When we got to the bottom 
there were at least a hundred others 
there, and every mither’s son of them 
so rigged up that you wouldn’t have 
known your own brither amongst 
them, sure. They swore me by all 
that’s good and bad, the saints and 
blissid Virgin, never to spake a word. 
Oi’ felt like gittin’ out o’ thot, but Oi 
couldn’t, Mr. Belden, Oi couldn’t. Oi 
were in for it and had to take the 
medicine. 

“ The matin’ had a prisident, and 
anither mon got up and read from a 
paper — he said it was a telegram, or 
somethin’ loike — sayin’, ‘ Look out for 
a man named Sharp, an employment 


WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER ? 137 

agent ; ’ and thin anither one said, ^ I 
seed a mon schlippin’ about town to- 
day that Oi didn’t know and didn’t 
like the looks on, and he were up 
about the office this evenin’.’ And 
thin anither spoke up (he had come 
in late) and said, ‘ Oi saw the mon go 
into the office ; ’ and thin they all said, 
^That’s the lad,’ and the first thing 
we’d know ould Bilden would have 
a bloody pack of black shape in the 
mulls. 

Paddy Murphy spakes up and 
says, ^ We’ll blow up the bloody ould 
mull an’ every blatin’ black shape, 
wid it, and me an’ Bridget’s the mon 
that’ll be afther doin’ of it.’ And 
then after this little confab the prisi- 
dent said, ^ It’s toime to be a-drillin’, 
and they got us up and stood us in 
two lang rows, and thin they give to 
each of us a bloody shootin’-iron, and 
Oi says, ^ Fat’s the guns for, and this 
drillin’ down here in this howl in the 
ground ? ’ And Paddy says, says he, 


188 ‘WHICH ‘WAT, SIRS, THE BETTER? 

‘ It’s for the binifit of ould Bilden and 
his snakin’ crowd o’ cowardly spal- 
peens ; ’ and they drilled and drilled 
until methought I nivir was goin’ to 
git here to-night.” 

Mr. Belden had listened most atten- 
tively to Barney’s narrative of the 
evening’s events, and not a word had 
escaped him ; matters were rapidly 
nearing a crisis. It was evident that 
the purpose of Mr. Sharp’s visit was 
known, that the men were armed 
and secretly drilling, and that an 
attempt to man the - works would be 
resisted even to the shedding of blood. 

Mr. Belden rose from his chair and 
paced his office floor rapidly. Turn- 
ing, he stopped before Barney and in- 
quired, ‘ ‘ When do they meet again ? ” 

“Saturday noight,” replied Bar- 
ney. 

“And you will go?” queried Mr. 
Belden. 

“Sartainly.” 

“ And report everything to me ? ” 


WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER ? 139 

“Sartainly.” 

“How much I owe to you, Bar- 
ney ! ” 

“Niver a cent, Mr. Belden. The 
debt I owe to yez is beyond me to 
pay.” 

“Go now, Barney; be watchful, 
and above all be careful, for if you 
should be suspected your life would 
not be worth a straw.” 

Mr. Belden went to the door, cau- 
tiously drew back the bolt, and was 
in the act of opening it when the 
building rocked on its foundations 
with a violence that staggered both 
its occupants. The shock was suc- 
ceeded by a dull roar that reverber- 
ated from hill to hill, and echoed up 
and down the river valley. 

Mr. Belden turned with blanched 
face to Barney. “What does this 
mean ? ” he exclaimed. 

“The byes are afther a-trying’ a 
little doinamite, I suspect,” answered 
Barney. 


140 WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER ? 

“ Some mischief is up,” said Mr. 
Belden. “ Here — don’t leave the 
office until I turn out the light ; we 
may be watched. Now go, and he 
very careful.” 

Barney stepped quietly out and 
disappeared in the darkness. 

Mr. Belden rebolted the door and 
passed to the front of the office and 
out upon the street. Lights were 
glimmering in many of the houses, 
and the sound of feet resounded along 
the streets. The explosion had 
aroused the whole village. Mr. Bel- 
den hastened to the mills, where 
quite a crowd had already congre- 
gated. The damage from the explo- 
sion was but slight ; a few broken 
timbers was all, but it was sufficient 
to admonish him of the dangers that 
environed him, and the spirit that 
was abroad that needed but slight 
provocation to break out into open 
hostility. 


WHICH WAY, sms, THE BETTEH ? 141 


CHAPTEE XI. 

A SPECIMEN OF LEGAL PROTECTION. 

The events of the past twenty-four 
hours had been a great revelation to 
Mr. Belden. The visit of Mr. Sharp, 
the secret meeting at the shaft, the 
arming and drilling of a part, at 
least, of his recent employes, the 
explosion at the mills, stimulated him 
to the need of immediate action for 
his personal protection and that of 
his property. He was a man of quick 
decision and great tenacity of pur- 
pose, and when his plans were once 
formed he carried them out without 
hesitation. He at once commenced 
the construction of a strong fence, 
or stockade, enclosing all the build- 
ings connected with the works. He 


142 WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER ? 

visited the county seat and solicited 
protection of the sheriff. 

That functionary made a hasty 
visit to Beldendale. The workmen 
at the mills, as he remembered, had 
largely been his constituents in his 
election, a circumstance not to be for- 
gotten, while Mr. Belden had been 
openly a supporter of the opposition 
ticket, consequently if the executor 
of the law ’’ had any sympathies they 
naturally were with the employes. 
He heard the story of their griev- 
ances ; he counselled moderation, and 
assured Mr. Belden that he need fear 
no injury to his property or person ; 
that many of his late employes had 
assured him of this, and some had 
even expressed a willingness to he 
deputized to act as special guards 
in the event of such being needed ; 
that they had expressed regret that 
anyone should have attempted to do 
injury ; that they were confident that 
no member of the association was 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 143 

guilty of such an act ; and that sus- 
picious strangers had been seen loiter- 
ing about his works, and the explo- 
sion was probably at their instigation. 

I have good cause to doubt these 
statements,” replied Mr. Belden, 
yet I have no positive evidence that 
I could fix the guilt on any particular 
persons ; but suppose I should desire 
to fill the places of my late workmen 
with others, would they be willing to 
guard my property ? ” 

Ah, Mr. Belden, that question is 
rather difficult to answer,” replied the 
sheriff. Do you think they would 
be willing to see you take the bread 
out of their own children’s mouths 
and give it to others ? Would that 
be natural ? ” 

But you concede my right to do 
as I please with my own, to work 
these mills in the way I please, and 
by whom I please, and that in the 
exercise of this lawful right you are 
legally bound to protect me.” 


144 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

“ Abstractly, this may be your 
right ; but have these men no rights 
that you are as equally bound to re- 
spect? While you have furnished 
the capital, have they not furnished 
the muscle that has built up this great 
industry, and that has brought to you 
wealth and independence ? and is this 
all to go for naught in settlement of 
the question of a ten per cent reduc- 
tion ? ” * 

“ Your reasoning is absurd,” re- 
plied Mr. Belden. “ Suppose that 
this ten per cent reduction means the 
preservation of the works or their 
abandonment, continued labor for 
these men at slightly reduced wages, 
or no labor. Am I, as owner and 
manager of these works, to take into 

* The reader need not be surprised at the utter- 
ances of this mere county politician. Men high 
in tlie councils of the nation, on the Senate floor, 
have in open debate advanced very similar argu- 
ments, to the astonishment of every well-informed 
person, on the rights of ownership, use, and con- 
trol of property. 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 145 

my counsel these men and submit to 
them the propriety of making such a 
reduction ? What do they know of 
the intricacies of a vast business such 
as this, and the effect of an increase 
or reduction of what may seem to you 
the very paltry sum of ten per cent ? 
Why, on less margins, firms have 
failed or made fortunes. No, I pay 
these men for their labor, and be- 
cause, forsooth, they have been in my 
employ ten or fifteen years, that fact 
gives them no more right to dictate 
whom I shall employ and how I shall 
conduct my business, than the man 
who has served me but a month 
or who has never served at all. 
But this is foreign to the ques- 
tion. In the event of my endeavor- 
ing to start my mills and fulfill my 
contracts, can I expect your protec- 
tion ? ” 

As to that,” replied the sheriff, 
I shall do my duty under the law 
as I understand it, that is, I shall 

10 


146 WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER? 

preserve the peace when a breach of 
the peace is threatened.” 

And was not the attempt to blow 
up the mills last night such a breach 
of the peace as deserves j^our atten- 
tion, and that under your oath of 
ofl&ce requires you to take such steps 
as will prevent a recurrence ? ” de- 
manded Mr. Belden. 

Not as I understand it,” said the 
sheriff. There is no open hostility 
or threats of violence that have come 
to my knowledge which would justify 
me in taking such a step ; as to the 
parties who attempted to blow up 
your mill, the same rule will apply 
as in all other cases. We catch the 
thief when identified ; when you 
identify the parties who sought the 
destruction of your property last 
night, and place in my hands the 
proper warrants for their arrest, I 
shall do my duty.” 

Then I am to understand that you 
are powerless to afford me protection, 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 147 

and that I shall have to depend upon 
my own devices ? ” 

I see nothing that I can do/’ an- 
swered the sheriff. 

Mr. Belden was on the point of tell- 
ing him of the meeting and secret 
drilling, but from the evident sym- 
pathy manifested by him for the 
strikers, he hesitated, and thus ended 
the interview. 

And so the law is powerless, ren- 
dered impotent by the very agency 
intended to carry it into effect,” 
mused Mr. Belden, ^^and nothing 
remains for me to do to protect my 
interests, and perhaps my life, but 
the suggestion of Sharp. I shall 
wire him at once ; ” and turning to 
his desk he indited the following 
telegram : 

Beldendale, Pa., Nov. — , 18 — . 
‘‘Mr, J, P. Sharp, Agent of Jones 
& Co., No, — Broadway, New York : 

See Craft & Craft and arrange to 


148 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 

furnish fifty men to act as escort and 
guards for the men you propose to 
furnish under your contract. 

‘‘ John Belden.” 

This done, Mr. Belden put on his 
hat, went personally to the telegraph 
office, delivered his message to the 
operator, then walked leisurely to his 
residence to seek, if possible, in the 
quiet of his family circle rest for an 
hour from the cares and perplexities 
of his busy life. 

At the Assembly Hall quite a num- 
ber of the members were present, 
especially those serving upon the 
various committees, for now the hall 
was kept open every day, and to and 
from it were continually passing 
members of the organization in quest 
of news, or upon some errand con- 
nected with the duties of the several 
committees. 

A quick step upon the stairway, 
and a young man, breathless and 


WHICH WAY, SIBS, THE BETTER ? 149 

flushed with excitement, entered the 
room and calling aside the chairman 
of the Executive Committee handed 
him a slip of paper. Opening and 
hastily reading it he turned to his 
associates, and said : ‘‘The committee 
will at once convene in executive 
session.” 

The members present came quickly 
together, and then he read the con- 
tents of the slip : 


^‘Patrick Marley^ Chairman Execu- 
tive Committee : 

“ I have just caught a message on 
the lines to Jones & Co., Employ- 
ment Agency, New York, to arrange 
with Detective Agency for fifty men 
to guard the mills and the men 
Belden proposes to employ. Can’t 
leave my post, so send by messenger. 

“John Mills.” 

“This is very important informa- 
tion. Shall it be brought before the 


150 WHICH WAY, SIRS, BETTER ? 

assembly in open session ? What 
say you ? ” 

^‘Beldenis forcing matters to the 
wall. We are aware that there is 
an element among us that is very 
difficult to control, and I very much 
fear that this news to them will be 
accepted as an open challenge, and 
should, I think, be kept to ourselves, 
or bloodshed may result,” remarked 
Michael Durant. 

Me opinion is, that if Bildin takes 
the bits in his tath he must take the 
consequences of a sore mouth. I’m 
in favor of lettin’ the byes know,” 
answered Mike Maguire. 

show of force to meet force 
may deter the men employed by 
Belden from being the tools of capital 
to deprive us of our just rights. I 
am not in favor of withholding this 
information from our people, but 
moderation should be urged, and 
care taken to avoid a breach of the 
peace, else the sheriff and his posse, 


WHICH WAY, Sirs, tile better ? l5l 

and possibly the militia, will be upon 
us, and our last state will be worse 
than the first,” counselled another. 

But there was no need of further 
deliberation on the part of the com- 
mittee ; by some means the news had 
reached the street of the coming of 
the detective force, and like all rumors 
had gathered force and volume as it 
passed from mouth to mouth, until 
it was actually believed that the mills 
were already denizened by a horde of 
armed detectives. 

Quickly the village streets were 
filled with a mass of excited humanity. 
Men, women, and children mingled 
promiscuously, and imprecations loud 
and deep were hurled from the lips of 
the more boisterous and desperate, 
while the conservative ones were 
cowed into a silence that was readily 
interpreted as acquiescence. Like the 
first rush of the torrent down the 
mountain-side, rending before the 
oncoming flood, rocks and trees, with 


152 WHICH WAY, sms, THE BETTER ? 

deafening crash and roar, so are the 
first ebullitions of the human torrent 
of violence ; but, the first mad rush 
passed, there comes in its wake the 
deeper and more destructive tor- 
rent, only quieter because of an un- 
obstructed course. 

These idle rumors were, however, 
soon put at rest. A visit to the mills 
showed them empty of human occu- 
pants, deserted ; but still the fact that 
men to work them and guards to 
protect them might be expected any 
day kept the town on the qui vive. 
At Assembly Hall there was the 
greatest activity. Lookouts were 
doubled, signals arranged, commit- 
tees appointed to meet, interview, and 
induce the new men to abandon their 
new employer before or when they 
might arrive. And nightly at the 
Milligan Shaft the more desperate, 
with loaded arms, drilled and pre- 
pared for resistance to the death. 

Beldendale slept, if it could be said 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 153 

to sleep, on a smoldering volcano that 
at any moment might burst into 
terrible activity. The daily papers, 
with active reporters on the ground, 
by flaming headlines and lengthy 
columns, portrayed the situation. 
Beldendale, known heretofore only 
as a business center of commer- 
cial activity and enterprise, was now 
the theme of pulpit and rostrum, the 
focus of all eyes, the daily topic of 
conversation in mansion and count- 
ing-house, hovel and saloon. 


154 WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER? 


CHAPTER XII. 

THE RIOT. 

The contract with the employment 
agency was duly received, signed, and 
returned by Mr. Belden, who daily 
awaited the arrival of the men and 
guards. The work of preparation to 
receive them went on rapidly. The 
stockade was finished, and barracks 
were erected for the housing of the 
new employes within the enclosure. 
Barney Foy , by his nightly visitations, 
kept Mr. Belden fully informed of 
every movement made by his late 
employes. The ranks of the strikers 
had been greatly augmented by the 
hordes of unemployed and the tramp 
element, attracted to the town by 
the possible hope of plunder or the 


WHICH WAIT, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 166 

excitement incident to such a state 
of society. Vicious characters, ready 
for any desperate undertaking, lurked 
about waiting their opportunity. 

Early one December morning a 
telegram was received by Mr. Belden 
informing him that the necessary 
number of workmen had been secured 
and that they, with the guards, would 
leave that day by special train for 
Beldendale, and would probably 
arrive within the next twenty-four 
hours. The clicking of the tele- 
graphic instruments conveyed to John 
Mills the same information, who from 
his safe retreat over the telegraph 
office in the village noted, with quick 
ear, all that passed in the office below. 

Early in the day Mr. Belden quietly 
left Beldendale, and, boarding the 
east-bound express, met the special 
at Harrisburg. As they journeyed 
westward he held a long consultation 
with the officers in charge, exhibiting 
to them maps and charts of his works. 


156 WHICH WAY, sms, THE BETTER ? 

the village, and surrounding country, 
and explaining to them, as best he 
could, the actual situation of affairs. 
As a result, it was concluded to stop 
the train at Batesville Siding, five 
miles east of Beldendale, where they 
would arrive at about nine o’clock in 
the evening, and thence march to 
Beldendale, timing themselves so as 
to reach the works at about three 
o’clock the next morning, and thus, 
under cover of the darkness and prob- 
able unwatchfulness of the strikers 
at that hour, gain an entrance to the. 
works without opposition. 

At Altoona Mr. Belden left the 
special. I will take the west-bound 
express here, and have at the Bates- 
ville Siding a competent guide, who 
knows every cross-road between that 
and Beldendale, who will safely pilot 
you,” he said to the officer in com- 
mand ; and he stepped from the train 
as it drew up to the station. 

Let us now return to Beldendale 


WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER? 157 

and note the events of the passing 
hours. The communication of John 
Mills’ caught telegram to the strik- 
ing workmen again filled the streets 
with an excited multitude. The 
faces of the men were sternly set, 
and words were few. A determina- 
tion so marked their actions and ex- 
pression that one could not but be im- 
pressed with the thought that a crisis 
had indeed come that was to strain 
to the utmost tension the peace of the 
community. 

John Mills, the striker’s friendly 
telegraph operator, now abandoned 
his post at the village office and 
turned his attention to the railroad 
office. To note the progress of the 
special was now his duty. Walking 
leisurely down to the railway depot, 
he strolled apparently indifferently 
into the dispatcher’s office. 

What's all this fuss about up 
street, John ? ” inquired that official. 

Oh, haven’t you heard ? Why, 


158 WHICH WAY, SlilS, THE BETTER? 

Belden is bringing a pack of black 
sheep and a batch of Pinkertons from 
New York.” 

“ The dickens you say ! By our 
road ? ” 

“ No, by the B. & 0., and there’ll 
likely be music when they get here.” 

The telegraph instrument ticked 
out the station call. The dispatcher 
turned to the key and answered, then 
came the words to the operator’s ear 
as distinct as though spoken, “ Spe- 
cial from New York on road. Eun- 
ning wild. At Atwood now. Run 
regular trains with care.” 

John Mills was all attention. 

“Well, we have a special to-day. 
Sure they’re not coming this way ? ” 
queried the dispatcher. 

“No,” answered Mills, “ by the 
B. & 0. We heard from them this 
morning and know which way they 
will come.” 

“ Glad I haven’t to handle that 
crew,” remarked the dispatcher. 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 159 

Would feel like ditching them, eh ? ” 
suggested John inquiringly, then 
continued, When I used to dispatch 
on the railroad I liked to run specials ; 
there was always an excitement about 
it.” 

Well, stay this afternoon, if you 
have nothing else to do, and watch 
this one.” 

This was just the invitation John 
wanted, and with a Thank you,” he 
seated himself and gave his undivided 
attention. 

What time will this load of New 
York bums get here, think you ? ” in- 
quired the dispatcher. 

^^Oh, not likely till to-morrow 
night.” 

^^The boys will make mutton of 
them if I am to judge by their talk. 
The poor lambs, I pity them. 
Belden’s got the stiff neck and lost 
his head. I never thought it of him ; 
I always thought him to be a gentle- 
man.” 


160 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

Not only the stiff neck, but worse, 
the swelled head,” sarcastically an- 
swered Mills. 

The day passed away and the even- 
ing shades gathered in the valley, and 
John Mills noted every dispatch re- 
garding the special. On an excuse 
for a drink of beer, he would go fre- 
quently to the saloon of Johannes 
Schlausser. Beer was not, however, 
the motive of his oft repeated visits, 
although a drink of that beverage he 
would not decline, but by previous 
arrangement he there communicated 
to members of the executive com- 
mittee the progress of the special. 
Night had fully closed in and en- 
folded the village in its sombre man- 
tle, and lights were lit in the dis- 
patcher’s office and along the tracks 
at switch targets, when suddenly the 
instrument clicked out, Side-track 
special at Batesville Siding.” 

Why, that’s a queer one ; a pas- 
senger special from New York side- 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 161 

tracked at that out-of-the-way place 
with no train from either way to pass 
in the next half hour. If it were 
summer time and good fishing, I 
could understand it, but in the dead 
of winter, whew ! ” 

^^Well,’’ answered Mills, ^Hhat 
picnic party’s Belden’s lambs. I’ll bet. 
B. & O.’s not in it, and we’ve been 
watching her all day and never found 
it out. Nine o’clock ; no supper. I 
must, at least, have some bread and 
cheese. So good-night.” 

Walking hastily along the street, 
John Mills elbowed his way through 
the excited knots of men and women 
gathered on the sidewalks to the As- 
sembly Hall. Here he announced 
the last message over the wires. 
Secrecy had ceased to be a factor, and 
in the glare of a street lamp the fact 
of the siding of the special at Bates- 
ville, only five miles away, was 
publicly announced in large display 
letters upon an improvised bulletin 

ii 


162 WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER? 

board to the now thoroughly aroused 
and angered multitude, who received 
the intelligence with a howl of rage. 
Leaping upon a drygoods box, a little 
man with red shocky hair and a 
shrill voice that could be heard high 
above the babel, cried out : 

“Stand to your guns, byes; the 
murtherin’ spalpeens is on yez. Give 
’em powder for lunch, and your hot- 
test lead broth for their breakfast. 
And here’s me Bridget, and she’ll be 
the last mon of yez to run ; ” and with 
this appeal he lifted to his side a 
woman, who excitedly waved in her 
hand a red bandanna handkerchief. 

This little pantomime of Patrick 
Murphy and his wife was the signal 
for cheer after cheer, and the respon- 
sive waving of numerous similar 
emblems of radicalism by the frenzied 
mob gathered about the bulletin 
board. 

Mr. Belden arrived on the evening 
express, and went at once to his 


WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER? 163 

office. Here to his delight he found 
Barney awaiting him. 

Barney,” said he, as soon as it 
is fully dark, take the fastest horse 
in the stable and ride for all you are 
worth to Batesville Siding ; at nine 
o’clock the special, with my men and 
guards, will be there ; report to Cap- 
tain Fitzsimmons at once ; you are 
to act as his guide to-night. Here is 
a note that will introduce you. Dis- 
guise yourself so that there will be 
no possibility of your identification by 
the strikers — but first, tell me how 
goes it in town to-day ? ” 

‘^The very ould scratch is loose, 
Mr. Belden ; they’ve had a bulletin- 
board up all afternoon, and the cornin’ 
of the train has been posted iv’ry 
hour ; and there’s been more bad 
whisky drunk in Beldendale this 
afternoon than for a year past, and 
the paple’s all a scratchin’ and a-how- 
lin’ bloody murther, and it won’t be 
safe for yez to be seen out the night. ” 


164 WHICH WAY, sms, THE BETTEK ? 

‘ ‘ Ah ! I suppose J ohannes is getting 
in his work in good shape ; hut all 
right, Barney, there’ll be a different 
tale to be told in the morning. Go 
now, and a safe journey.” 

“All roit, Mr. Belden, an’ a safe 
deliverance to yez.” 

In a few minutes Barney rode 
quietly out of the village, avoiding as 
far as possible the groups of men 
along the way, until reaching the 
outskirts he put spurs to the horse 
and dashed forward along the road 
to Bates ville. Arriving at the siding 
he sought out Captain Fitzsimmons. 
The men had disembarked, kindled 
fires along the railway track, and 
were partaking of a hastily prepared 
supper. Barney scanned their faces 
closely. They were a motley crowd, 
apparently of all nationalities, and 
the refuse of the streets and alleys of 
the great city. 

At one o’clock they were formed 
in line, a squad of guards preceding. 


WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER? 165 

and another at the rear of the column. 
Loud conversation or any demon- 
stration that would attract attention 
was strictly forbidden. Silently the 
column moved out upon and along 
the way to Beldendale. Nothing of 
note occurred until three miles of the 
way had been covered, when to their 
right, and apparently upon some 
elevation not discernible in the dark- 
ness, a tongue of flame flickered for a 
moment, then shot upward, painting 
the darkness with its red glow. 

What’s that ? ” Captain Fitzsim- 
mons inquired of Barney. 

‘‘Pr’aps some tramps, but loikely 
the strikers’ outlookers,” replied Bar- 
ney. 

The column moved silently on. 
Ascending an elevation in the road- 
way, within a mile of the vil- 
lage outskirts, a halt was called. 
The guards were directed to load 
their rifles, and then one-half their 
number were detailed as an advance 


166 WHICH WAY, sms, THE BETTER? 

guard, and instructed to move rapidly 
forward and occupy the gates of the 
stockade, and in doing so to preserve 
the utmost caution so that no alarm 
might he given ; the workmen and 
the remaining guards would follow 
more leisurely. Instructions were 
also given that arms were not to be 
used except to repel an attack by arms. 
With these cautionings the columns 
were again put in motion. A long 
descent led to the village, which at 
that hour seemed wrapped in pro- 
found slumber. The advance was 
soon out of sight in the darkness. 
Scarcely had half the distance been 
traversed until evidences, unmistak- 
able, were apparent that the strikers 
were not unwatchful. To the right of 
them, with a swish, a red rocket rose 
in the air ; in an instant there was 
another to their left ; then came to 
their ears the jangling notes of an 
alarm-bell ; lights twinkled from the 
windows of houses on the hillside and 


WHICH WAY, sms, THE BETTER? 167 

in the valley, and moved here and 
there along the village streets. 

^^We are discovered,” exclaimed 
Captain Fitzsimmons. There is 
nothing now to do to avoid a collision 
but to gain the stockade. Forward ! 
Double-quick ! March ! ” 

A shot in the advance, then an- 
other and another in quick succes- 
sion, and a babel of voices could be 
distinctly heard. 

^‘The advance is attacked. For- 
ward, MEN ! Forward ! ” shouted 
the captain. 

With quickened step they rushed 
down the road. At a cut in the way, 
with steep embankments on either 
side, the advance was overtaken 
standing at bay. In the roadway, 
and on either bank, a hooting, howl- 
ing mob pelted them with clods and 
stones and whatever other missiles 
came to hand. Captain Fitzsimmons 
took in the situation at a glance, and 
deploying the advance right and 


168 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

left, ordered a charge up the em- 
bankments with drawn maces. The 
mob resisted stoutly and yielded 
ground reluctantly, but before the 
organized and disciplined guards 
was forced back, step by step, along 
the street toward the gates of the 
stockade. 

Mr. Belden’s valor got the better 
of his discretion, and hastening to 
the scene of conflict, he sought to put 
himself in communication with the 
officers of the guard. Pushing his 
way, unobserved in the darkness, 
through the mob, he encountered 
Barney Foy. 

^^You here, Mr. Bildin ? Why, 
you’ll be kilt sure ! ” he exclaimed. 

^^Take that, ye cowardly, pachin’ 
spalpeen ; ” and a club in the hands of 
a burly Irishman descended on Bar- 
ney’s head, laying him senseless at 
the feet of his benefactor. 

Mr. Belden turned and faced the 
assailant of the faithful Barney, 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 169 

there was the sharp report of a re- 
volver, and he staggered and fell, 
wounded and bleeding, over the pros- 
trate form of Barney, while over 
them both, with malignant leer, 
stood Johannes Schlausser, the still 
smoking weapon clutched in his 
hand. 

During these passing incidents, 
Patrick Murphy, with hatred delin- 
eated in every feature, and with the 
incoherency of rage on his lips, rushed 
forward and, with a might rendered 
almost superhuman with frenzy, cast 
a bomb high in the air, which, de- 
scending amid the ranks of the new 
employes, exploded with deafening 
roar, whirling its destructive missiles 
in every direction, and leaving on 
the ground a half a score of wounded 
and dying. ^‘Take that, ye bloody 
robbers of me Bridget and the 
bairns ! ” 

Attention ! Guards^ ready ^ aim^ 
fire ! ” 


170 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 

There was a crash of musketry. 

Club your guns and charge,^^ 

With a rush and a cheer the guards, 
with clubbed guns, charged down 
upon the now thoroughly frightened 
and scattering mass. In a moment 
the gates of the stockade were 
gained, and the victory was won, but 
at what fearful cost ! The lives of 
Patrick Murphy and six of his fellows, 
the maiming and wounding of twice 
as many more, while the proprietor 
himself lay seriously if not fatally 
wounded. Sorrow, tears, mourn- 
ings, and bitterness of heart were the 
garlands of the victors of that night 
of riot in Beldendale. 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 171 


CHAPTER XIII. 

AFTERCLAPS. 

"^^ITH leaden feet the morning 
dawned over village, valley, and 
river. The cold gray sky was in 
harmony with the sad events of the 
preceding night. Mr. Belden, bleed- 
ing and unconscious, had been borne 
to his mansion, his wounds dressed, 
and loving hands ministered to his 
needs. Barney Foy had also been 
carried to Mr. Belden’s home ; but the 
bludgeon had done its work, for with 
crushed skull he lay unconscious ; his 
heavy breathing, growing shorter 
and fainter each hour, told that disso- 
lution was drawing nigh. The killed 
and wounded of the strikers had been 
taken to their respective homes. The 


172 WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER? 

torn and mangled bodies of the 
strangers who had come in quest of 
employment were placed in an im- 
provised morgue at the office of the 
works, while the injured of their 
number were taken to the public 
hospital in the neighboring city. 

The guards, by details, patrolled 
the mills and guarded the gates of the 
stockade with shotted rifles, and the 
newly-arrived employes huddled to- 
gether in the barracks, fearing to 
walk the streets or publicly expose 
themselves. Reporters of the press, 
by observation, interview, or drafts 
on the imagination, gathered their 
columns of news and besieged the 
telegraph office for the first oppor- 
tunity to communicate their graphic 
descriptions of the events of the 
early morning to their respective 
papers. 

Business was suspended. Even the 
doors of Johannes Schlausser’s saloon 
remained closed, the proprietor in 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTEK? 173 

hiding, fearing the consequences of 
his rash act. Men stood in groups 
about the street, discussing in under- 
tones the events of the preceding 
night and their probable results. 
Beldendale was stunned ; the country- 
read the story and stood aghast, and 
wondered that such scenes could be 
enacted in an enlightened commu- 
nity. 

The sheriff, now all alive to his 
duty, arrived early with his posse of 
deputies and called upon the state 
for military assistance; but what need 
now ? The governor responded by 
proclamation, calling out the militia, 
who, during the course of the day, 
arrived by special trains, and with 
flags flying, bands of music, gay 
equipments, and martial tread, par- 
aded the village streets ; but for what 
now? Were not the fifty guards 
hired at the personal expense of Mr. 
Belden, and now in full possession of 
the fortified works, ample to meet all 


174 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 

emergencies and compel respect for 
law and order ? The tragedy of the 
night before, that a proper administra- 
tion of law should have prevented, 
had been enacted, and Beldendale 
was now peacefully engaged in coffin- 
ing her dead, uttering the last 
prayer, chanting the last requiem, 
condoling with the widowed and 
orphans at the graves of her slain, 
or binding up the wounds of her 
fallen. 

Why need we tarry to discuss who 
was in the right or who in the wrong ? 
These are grave and weighty prob- 
lems not easy of solution ; but this 
we may truly say : judged by the 
highest known standard of ethics, 
taught by Him who said to the 
winds and waves, Peace, be still,” 
neither side was wholly right or 
wholly wrong. Human passion, 
human prejudice, avarice, and pride 
played their parts in the drama, and 
so long as the world standeth it will 


WHICH WAY, SIBS, THE BETTER ? 175 

be SO, uninfluenced, unguided by the 
precepts of the great Teacher. 

The next morning after the riot, as 
Mr. Duncan descended the stairs to his 
breakfast at his residence on Fifth 
Avenue, New York, he found, as usual, 
upon the rack in the hallway, the 
morning Herald. Picking it up and 
carelessly running his eye down the 
headlines on the first page his atten- 
tion was riveted by these words : 


“GEEAT EIOT IN THE lEON 
EEGIONS OF WESTEEN PENN- 
SYLVANIA. 

“BELDENDALE THE SCENE 
OF A BLOODY ENCOUNTEE BE- 
TWEEN STEIKEES AND DETEC- 
TIVES. 

“ MANY KILLED AND WOUND- 
ED. AMONG THE LATTEE THE 
PEOPEIETOE OF THE WOEKS. 
TEOOPS CALLED OUT AND ON 
THEIE WAY TO THE SCENE OF 
DISTUEBANCE.” 


176 "WHICH "WAY, SIES, THE BETTER? 

Mr. Duncan read no further ; the 
headlines told the "whole dread story. 
He returned at once to his room. 
Mrs. Duncan was still at her morn- 
ing toilet. 

“Just as I expected, wife, the 
trouble at John’s mills has culminat- 
ed in a riot — so the paper says.” 

Mrs. Duncan turned to her husband 
with blanched cheeks. 

“ Any one injured ? ” 

“Yes, dear, many injured.” 

“ And John ? ” queried Mrs. Dun- 
can, her gaze fixed on the face of her 
husband. 

“Wounded,” replied Mr. Duncan, 
“but not seriously, let us hope.” 

Mrs. Duncan sank into a chair and 
for a moment covered her face with 
her hands, as though to shut out the 
awful vision. 

Mr. Duncan sprang to her side and 
folded her in his arms. 

“ Oh ! this is terrible ; let us go to 
him at once,” she sobbed. 


WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER ? 177 

‘ ‘ Yes, dear, we will go. How much 
I wish we had gone before this ! Pos- 
sibly we might have prevented this 
sad catastrophe.” 

A tap at the door ; Mr. Duncan 
turned and opened it ; a servant 
handed him a message. Hastily open- 
ing it he read aloud : 

John is seriously wounded, but I 
hope not fatally. Come at once. 

‘‘Your daughter, 

“Mary.” 

“Yes, we will go ;” and touching 
the button of the electric call-bell, 
he summoned Mrs. Duncan’s maid : 
“ Pack Mrs. Duncan’s trunks at once. 
We leave on this evening’s train.” 

When Mr. and Mrs. Duncan arrived 
at Beldendale the next day a carriage 
was in waiting to convey them to the 
Belden residence. As they drove 
along the street they were impressed 
with the thought that they were in- 


178 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

deed in a belligerent community. 
Patrol squads of blue-coated soldiers, 
with guns at right shoulder shift,” 
marched the streets, while guards 
stationed at every crossing paced 
their beats. 

As Mr. Duncan and his wife were 
being conveyed up the principal street 
they were confronted with a strange 
procession for a community at peace. 
First came a brass band playing a 
dead march ; next a platoon of militia, 
with arms reversed, marching with 
solemn tread to the time of the music ; 
then followed several hearses with 
their black drapings, while on either 
side marched in column members of 
various orders and societies. Follow- 
ing the hearses came carriages with 
mourners and friends, while on the 
sidewalk, with uncovered heads, stood 
the village populace. Beldendale was 
burying her dead. 

On arriving at the Belden mansion 
Mr. and Mrs. Duncan alighted and 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 179 

entered the darkened chamber of the 
sufferer and gazed silently and with 
tear-dimmed eyes upon the pallid 
face of their son lying in unconscious 
stupor. The bullet of the assassin 
had well-nigh done its intended work. 
The missile had struck the head and 
plowed a deep furrow in the scalp, 
contusing the skull and producing 
partial unconciousness. There was 
no sign of recognition of father and 
mother, but in moments of semicon- 
sciousness the patient talked inco- 
herently of unfulfilled contracts and 
unsettled business affairs. A good 
constitution, constant attention by 
the best medical skill, rest, and quiet 
in the course of a few months brought 
back to Mr. Belden his usual health 
and strength. The wounding of the 
proprietor necessitated the closing of 
the mills until his recovery and the 
return of sufficient strength to resume 
the management. 

In the final issue of this conflict it 


180 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

is questionable to whom belonged the 
gains, if any there were, but not so as 
to those on whom fell the greater 
losses. Capital had lost its gains on 
investment, but labor its daily wages 
with all the attendant poverty, broken 
homes, shattered hopes, and suffering ; 
while the generous hand that, in the 
past, had been so often opened in 
charitable deeds toward any unfor- 
tunate sick or suffering one among 
his employes in substantial acts of 
kindness, lay paralyzed on a couch of 
pain. 

As soon as it was definitively 
known that the mills were closed, the 
late employes sought for employment 
at other manufacturing centres or 
where best it might be obtained. 
Michael Durant and a few others 
of the more conservative and trust- 
worthy were retained to care for the 
property, while all others were given 
an indefinite discharge. At great 
cost to the state the troops were for 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 181 

a time retained, that passion might 
cool and the civil authorities fully as- 
sert their powers. J ohannes Schlaus- 
serwas tracked to his hiding-place, 
arrested, and held to await the result 
of his felonious attack on Mr. Bel- 
den ; and others of the more active 
promoters of the strike were held for 
conspiracy and as accessories. Peace 
reigned again in Beldendale, the 
peace of inaction, business stagna- 
tion, and commercial prostration. 


182 WHICH WAY, SIBS, THE BETTER ? 


CHAPTER XIV. 

DAWNING OP A BETTER DAY. 

As health and strength gradually 
returned to Mr. Belden, Mr. Duncan 
gleaned from him, by short and not 
overtaxing conversations, the his- 
tory of the strike and the causes that 
led to it. He was familiar with the 
newspaper history, not always truth- 
ful, from want of the exact knowh 
edge of the secret motives leading 
to the outward acts and results, and 
too often based on statements colored 
by the prejudices of parties from 
whom information was obtained. 

^^So this whole difficulty, with its 
terrible consequences, may be traced 
to one source that may be fully 
stated in the words, want of confix 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 183 

dence^'*'’ remarked Mr. Duncan at the 
close of their last conversation. 

‘‘Yes, that is the sum of it.” 

“ And this want of confidence 
might, you think, have been re- 
moved and overcome if such a state- 
ment of your affairs could have been 
made to your employes as would 
have satisfied at least a majority of 
them of the honesty of your motives 
in asking them to submit to the re- 
duction in wages ? ” 

“ Probably.” 

“And you had not the courage to 
meet their demands ? ” 

“ It was not a question of courage, 
but rather of policy. You know 
what Hamlet said when meditating 
suicide, ‘ Whether ’tis better to bear 
the ills we have, than fiy to others we 
know not of ; ’ and so with me, the 
question was, whether ’t were better to 
face a strike than an injured credit 
that such a revelation would then 
have brought upon me. Between 


184 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

these horns of the dilemma I had 
to choose, and I chose the first. The 
result is, you know, that I saved my 
credit. On ’change I am regarded 
safe, but it was at the sacrifice of the 
esteem of my employes, almost my 
own life, and the lives of others. I 
was between the millstones, and they 
ground exceeding fine.” 

‘‘What an insatiable Moloch this 
‘mammon of unrighteousness,’ this 
juggernaut of our modern civiliza- 
tion, is. In its maw, and beneath 
its ponderous wheels, its victims 
writhe and perish,” meditatingly an- 
swered Mr. Duncan. “ Certainly, 
there must be a better way of solving 
these problems than that through 
which you have just passed.” 

“ If there is I should rejoice to find 
it,” replied Mr. Belden. 

“The laws of contract, the right 
of employers to employ whom they 
please, to conduct their business as 
they deem best, to own and transfer 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 185 

property without hindrance, must of 
necessity ever remain as they now 
are. An abridgment of these rights, 
except for crime committed or for 
the public good, would be in viola- 
tion of one of the cardinal doctrines 
of our great charter of personal 
rights. The right to own property 
and to enjoy the fruits of one’s toil 
and enterprise is as sacred as the 
right of personal liberty. Indeed, it 
is part of it, and ownership implies 
the right of free use and disposal in 
every way not inconsistent with the 
rights of others. We hear men 
speak of the rights of capital and the 
rights of labor, as though they were 
distinct and severable. This is not 
a truth, and never can be. Capital 
is as much dependent upon labor as 
labor is upon capital ; neither can 
exist without the other. They are 
inseparable, and each best serves the 
other when moving in harmony. 
The best results to each, then, seem 


186 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER? 

to me to be attainable along the lines 
of moral conduct rather than by ap- 
peals to legislation, for legislation in 
the particular interest of either is 
of necessity class legislation, and is 
usually detrimental to the public 
good. In recent years I, perhaps, 
have given more thought to these 
subjects. I have had the time, the 
leisure, to study and investigate that 
I did not have when actively engaged 
in business, and I believe I have 
found a solution.” 

‘^If you have a theory, pray let 
me have it ; it may be worth a 
trial.” 

“The solution to which I refer is 
not a theory,” resumed Mr. Duncan. 
“I dislike theories. By them men 
navigate the air, explore the ocean 
depths, and travel to the poles, but 
not one of these theories has ever 
been demonstrated practically. No, 
I dislike theories ; there is always a 
cog out or a screw loose somewhere. 


WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER? 187 

They are the ignesfatui of the brain 
that lure men to destruction in vain 
attempts at demonstration. The 
aeronaut risks the dizzy heights, the 
deep-sea diver is crushed in his en- 
casing armor, the voyager perishes 
amid perpetual ice and snows. No, 
the solution is not a theory, but a 
demonstrated fact, and is now in suc- 
cessful operation in some of the lar- 
gest manufacturing establishments 
on the continent, and is being adopted 
by many others, and always with the 
most satisfactory results.” 

Mr. Duncan then proceeded with 
great minuteness to describe to 
Mr. Belden his interview with M. 
Beauchereau and the practical work- 
ing of the profit-sharing system in 
his extensive works, as he had seen 
it on the occasion of his visit to 
France. 

Mr. Belden was an intensely inter- 
ested listener to all that Mr. Duncan 
said. His recent experience had al- 


188 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTEB ? 

most driven him to the abandonment 
of his works and to seek other invest- 
ments where he should not be com- 
pelled to endure the harassing cares 
of constant watchfulness to prevent a 
waste of material by the carelessness 
of his workmen that greatly con- 
tracted the profits of his business, 
and the dread of possible strikes on 
slight pretexts and at most inoppor- 
tune times. But in the narrative of 
Mr. Duncan he thought he could see 
a gleam of light, a star to guide 
through the labyrinth of difficulties 
that seemed to hedge him about. 

“ What you say is certainly worthy 
of an honest trial. I had despaired 
of ever again attempting a busi- 
ness involving the employment of 
many workmen, but if they can 
be enlisted in such an enterprise as 
this you describe, I feel that the ulti- 
mate results cannot be other than 
satisfactory.” 

“Were I a younger man I would 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 189 

try the experiment ; you are young 
and can do it. It seems to me that 
our workingmen need something to 
stimulate them and make their labor 
more educational. They follow their 
tasks too much as the ox in the tread- 
mill. There is nothing in their em- 
ployment to cultivate their faculties 
of carefulness, nothing to stimulate 
to increased gains ; nothing, in fact, 
to call out the latent intellectual 
powers ; nothing but the day-after- 
day physical exertion : and it has in- 
deed been a wonder to me that they 
have maintained the moral status 
they have. But I see we are permit- 
ting our interest in this subject to 
outrun our better judgment.' You 
are exhausted and need rest, so we 
will talk further of this matter at 
another time.” 

‘ ‘ When I have sufficiently recovered 
strength I shall certainly try the ex- 
periment,” replied Mr. Belden ; and 
leaning back upon the pillows of his 


190 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

invalid chair he closed his eyes in the 
endeavor to seek repose and recupera- 
tion from the exertion of their con- 
versation. 

Mr. Duncan remained a few mo- 
ments until the regular breathing of 
the invalid told him that he slept, then 
quietly withdrew from the room. 


WHICH WAY, SIBS, THE BETTER ? 191 


CHAPTER XV. 

THE BETTER WAY. 

Springtime came at last, and with 
its bursting buds, springing grasses, 
and blooming flowers, came renewed 
health and strength to the proprietor 
of the works at Beldendale. He 
longed again for the activities of busi- 
ness life, and as he walked about the 
deserted mills, with their smokeless 
stacks, rusted rolls, and silent engines, 
he matured his plans, and, in im- 
agination, pictured the vast structure 
throbbing again with a new life of 
productive vigor. In furtherance of 
his plans, he had printed and distrib- 
uted the following : 


192 WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER ? 

“ To My Old Employes and Other 
Workingmen : 

“I invite you to a conference on 
Monday, April 30, at two o’clock p. M., 
at my mills. All who desire work are 
cordially invited to be present. 

“ John Belden.” 

The posting of this notice about the 
village was the gossip of the town. 
That John Belden was willing to con- 
fer with his old employes, and empha- 
sized his willingness by taking the in- 
itiative step to that end, was accepted 
as a good omen of better days for Bel- 
dendale. The workmen who had re- 
mained in the village wrote to those 
who had gone elsewhere, and as the 
day of meeting drew nigh, many of 
them returned, and all were anxious 
to know the probable result of their 
being called together. At length the 
hour appointed arrived. A suitable 
place had been selected in the mills, 
and rough seats constructed for the 
convenience of all who might come. 


WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER? 193 

John Belden was among the first to 
arrive, and as his late antagonists 
filed into the mills, he assured them 
of his continued confidence by a 
hearty shake of the hand and a kind 
word of welcome that touched a re- 
sponsive chord in many a stout heart 
beating beneath a rough coat. 

When all were seated, Mr. Belden 
arose and said : 

My friends, for I feel that I 
can call you such, I have invited 
you to meet me to-day to talk over 
and consider your own and my best 
interests. I should have sought this 
conference long since, but my health 
and strength were not sufficient for 
the task. It has been a source of 
gratification to me that, aside from a 
very few of your number, through all 
of our late estrangement, your con- 
duct toward me has not been offen- 
sive, and I am happy to know that 
the only hand in Beldendale that was 
raised to strike me was not an em- 


194 WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER? 

ploye of mine or a workingman. 
Since last September these mills have 
been idle. The reason for this need 
not now be mentioned, except to say 
that there was a want of confidence be- 
tween us as employer and employes ; 
and because I could not re-establish 
that confidence by an exhibition of my 
private affairs (a revelation of which 
at that time I deemed hazardous to 
both my interests and yours) there 
came this long-continued strike. 
But that time is now happily past. 
In the future, I propose that the busi- 
ness of managing the affairs of these 
works shall be conducted on an en- 
tirely new basis, that of profit-sharing. 
I propose that each of you shall have 
in his confidence every business trans- 
action, if he so desires ; that each of 
you shall, in a sense, become a part- 
ner in the conducting of the business. 
I shall not here go into details of the 
plans I shall propose, but shall, in due 
time, submit to a committee of your 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 195 

number a full statement of the meth- 
ods I shall propose, so that you may 
at your leisure examine them ; and 
by conferences we can probably agree 
upon some basis of trial of the new 
scheme.” 

This short address appeared to meet 
the approval of those present, and 
from their number they selected a 
committee to receive from Mr. Belden 
his proposals, and for conference. 

Michael Durant was unanimously 
chosen chairman of this committee, 
and Mr. Belden was duly notified that 
they were ready to receive from him, 
and consider, such proposals as he 
might desire to make. Promptly he 
submitted to them the following : 

Beldendale, May 5, 18 — . 

Gentlemen : — I submit to you for 
your consideration and approval the 
following propositions as the basis 
upon which my works shall resume 
operation, viz. : 


196 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

First — Wages shall be paid to 
each employe upon the basis of the 
scale now existing and paid in other 
works for the manufacture of like 
products, less ten per cent. This re- 
duction is asked for the reason that the 
works have been so long idle that time 
is necessary to regain our trade and 
put the mills in proper running con- 
dition. Wages to be paid semi- 
monthly. 

‘ ‘ Second — That at the expiration 
of six months, or bi-yearly, the 
reduction of ten per cent shall 
be paid to each employe who 
remains in my employ, out of any 
surplus of profit there may be after 
deducting taxes and the ordinary 
repair and wage accounts of the 
works. 

Third — That the absolute man- 
agement and control of the works 
shall remain in me, and for my super- 
intendency I shall receive an annual 
salary equal to that paid in any sim- 
ilar plant of like capacity, out of the 
profits of the concern, say $3,000, 
payable quarterly. 

“ Fourth — That upon the capital 
invested ($400,000) I shall be allowed 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 197 

an annual interest of five per cent, 
payable semi-annually. 

“ Fifth — That after deducting full 
wage and salary account, repair ac- 
count, and interest and tax accounts, 
any surplus of profit remaining at 
the expiration of each six months 
shall be divided into three parts, and 
distributed as follows : one-third 
(but in no event to exceed twenty per 
cent of the capital invested) to be 
retained to meet possible losses in the 
business, such as bad debts, etc. ; one- 
third to be distributed to you as oper- 
atives, and to clerks, bookkeepers, 
and other employes, on the basis of 
your respective wages and salaries ; 
and the remaining third to me as the 
owner of the works and superintend- 
ent. 

‘‘Sixth — To entitle any employe to 
participation in the distribution of 
profits, he must have remained con- 
tinuously in my employ for the six 
months immediately preceding the 
distribution, sickness or accident 
alone excusing. 

“Seventh — For your protection as 
well as my own, against imposition, 
^ committee of one from each depart- 


198 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

ment, chosen by the workmen there- 
of, and one chosen by myself, shall 
constitute a board of supervision, and 
shall hear and determine all com- 
plaints made to them or that shall 
come within their observation touch- 
ing the faithfulness and efficiency 
of any employe, with power to dis- 
charge ; also the power to elect and 
fill all vacancies in each of the depart- 
ments ; always reserving to myself 
the right to hear and determine any 
and all cases upon review, upon ap- 
plication. 

Eighth — That a committee of 
one person from each department 
shall be chosen, to whom, at all 
proper times, shall be submitted the 
hooks, accounts, and business trans- 
actions of the works for their inspec- 
tion and examination, so that all 
may be fully informed as to their 
rights in the profits in the business. 

Personally, I assume all responsi- 
bility of losses. I ask of none of you 
a contribution, except that of your 
diligence, carefulness, and strict ap- 
plication to your employment, re- 
membering that as you faithfully ap- 
ply yourselves the more probable will 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 199 

your reward be in the enlarged pro- 
fits of these works. If these proposi- 
tions meet your approval they will be 
prepared in duplicate and signed by 
each operative and myself, to be bind- 
ing for one year. We must remem- 
ber, however, that this is largely ex- 
perimental, that while it has proved 
successful in most of the cases whore 
given an honest and faithful trial, 
yet, with us it may fail unless we take 
the step with a full determination 
that one and all will honestly bear his 
full share of the burdens. 

Yours respectfully, 

John Belden.’’ 

After careful consideration by the 
committee, and submission to the 
workmen, with their favorable re- 
commendation, the proposition was 
accepted, but not without many mis- 
givings on the part of some. The 
papers drawn and duly signed, all 
was in readiness for the new experi- 
ment of associated labor and capital. 
The fires were lighted in furnace and 
beneath boiler, the smoke curled up- 


200 WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER? 

ward from the many chimneys once 
more, the wheels of engines and 
lathes again revolved, the sound of 
clanking machinery and the hum of 
industry filled the valley, and echoed 
from hill to hill ; the workmen came 
and went from their daily toil as 
of old, but with a new inspiration. 
Never in the history of the works was 
there such production, so little waste 
of material, such care and thought, 
so great a volume of trade. Belden- 
dale was indeed at peace, the peace 
of busy industry, of widening com- 
merce. 

The first six months passed, then 
the second. The balanced ledgers 
were a wonderful revelation. W ages 
paid in full, interest on capital paid, 
salaries and repair accounts canceled, 
and a surplus for distribution to the 
wage-earner of ten per cent ; so that 
he whose average wages were five 
hundred dollars received a bonus of 
fifty dollars, and he whose wages 


WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER ? 201 

reached a thousand, received one 
hundred.* 

By unanimous consent of all con- 
cerned, at the expiration of the year, 
the new system was continued, and 
all with one accord and with re- 
newed vigor, stimulated with the ex- 
perience of the past, entered upon the 
labor of the second year, determined, 
if possible, to make a better showing 
of the advantages of profit-sharing. 

And what shall we do with As- 
sembly No. 10 ? ” queried Michael Du- 
rant of Mr. Belden, as he went his 
rounds as superintendent. 

‘^The usefulness of Assembly No. 
10 under our present system is cer- 
tainly a thing of the past, but or- 
ganization, in my judgment, is still 
a necessity,” replied Mr. Belden. 
‘^But that organization must be 

* This is not a fancy sketch ; it is rather under 
than above the percentage distributed by many 
employers who have adopted the system of 
profit-sharing. 


202 WHICH WAY, sms, THE BETTER ? 

such as will include in its member- 
ship all interested in the successful 
operation of the works, one in which 
I as the owner can be a member as 
well as you^ an operator. We have 
no secrets now that need be kept 
from each other, but as laborers to- 
gether, we should freely interchange 
views and consider our joint inter- 
ests.” 

^‘The suggestion is certainly a 
good one,” Michael replied. The 
mill is not a convenient place, at least 
during work hours, for such a pur- 
pose.” 

And then there are other matters, 
more of a social nature, that should 
receive our attention,” continued 
Mr. Belden. ^^We dwell here as a 
community, and while our homes 
should always be the chief centres 
for our evening and oif-hour enter- 
tainment, yet there are not a few 
who are not so favorably situated 
as you and I, and who have no homes 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 203 

other than their boarding-houses, 
and some place should be provided 
suitable for their entertainment, 
where the moral and elevating influ- 
ences should predominate, such as 
reading-rooms, etc. Any association 
that shall have for its end such pur- 
poses shall have my hearty co-opera- 
tion.” 

shall talk to the men about 
this,” replied Michael. I am sure 
such an association would meet with 
general approval.” 

‘^And in addition to the objects 
I have already mentioned,” Mr. 
Belden resumed, ^^a society of the 
nature of a Building and Loan As- 
sociation might he organized. These 
houses you are now occupying as 
tenants, and for which you are pay- 
ing me rent, might just as well he 
yours, and the money you now pay 
could be applied on purchase money, 
and in a few years you would own 
the title in fee. I can assure you 


204 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

such an investment of your savings 
is more secure than hank deposits.” 

And so together Mr. Belden and 
the men worked and planned along 
the lines of their common interests. 
****** 

Five years passed, and Mr. and 
Mrs. Duncan again visited Belden- 
dale. The mellowings of a happy 
old age were creeping into their lives, 
the fruitage of a life well spent in 
following the teachings of their old 
friend and pastor. Dr. Matoon, long 
since gathered to his fathers, but 
whose life still lived in his counsels. 
Mr. Belden was still in the prime of 
vigorous manhood, standing on the 
summit of life’s path, from whose 
heights he could look back through 
the mist of years upon the way, not 
always one of ease, but always 
straightforward, with a confidence 
born of a life of integrity and up- 
rightness 

“Well, John, give me the results 


WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 205 

of your experiments in profit-shar- 
ing,” remarked Mr. Duncan. 

‘^Come and see ; shall we ride or 
walk ? ” 

‘‘Why, walk, of course; I am 
feeling quite young to-day ; besides, 
I want to look into your works more 
closely than I could by riding.” 

So, arm in arm, they went the 
rounds, father and son, counselor 
and friend. As they walked through 
the mills they were greeted with 
pleasant smiles and nods by every 
one. Mr. Duncan, with the eye and 
interest of the old-time manufacturer, 
noted the many improvements in 
machinery and devices for handling 
the heavy products, but that which 
gave him the greatest pleasure was 
the cheerfulness and activity of all 
the workmen and their interest in 
their work. 

“You certainly have an extraordi- 
nary corps of employes,” he re- 
marked. 


206 WHICH WAY, sms, the better? 

Oh, you forget, under the pres- 
ent regime these are not employes ; 
they are my fellow-workmen, you 
know, and are just as interested in 
these works and their output as I 
am ; sometimes I think more so,’’ 
laughingly remarked Mr. Belden. 
^^But come, it is rather noisy here 
for conversation. Let us seek a quiet- 
er but I trust not a less interesting 
part of the plant ; ” and taking Mr. 
Duncan by the arm he led him from 
the mills out and along the village 
street. 

‘‘How neat and tidy all your 
tenant houses are ! ” remarked Mr. 
Duncan, as they sauntered along 
admiring the taste displayed in the de- 
signing and painting of the cottages 
and plotting of the grounds. 

“ These are not mine ; they belong 
to that horde of capitalists down in 
the mills. I once owned them, hut 
they bought me out, and many of the 
old shacks have been torn down that 


WHICH WAY, SIKS, THE BETTER? 207 

once disfigured the ground, and these 
new and more modern cottages have 
taken their places,” Mr. Belden 
answered. 

But I am more interested in how 
this was all brought about,” con- 
tinued Mr. Duncan. 

Through the operation of our 
Building and Loan Association,” 
replied Mr. Belden. 

By this time they had reached the 
main business thoroughfare of the 
village and stood before one of the 
most imposing buildings of the thriv- 
ing town. 

Come in, Mr. Duncan, I wish to 
show you the Assembly Hall.” 

‘‘Do the men still maintain their 
Knights of Labor organization ? ” 
“No, but we have a substitute, 
an organization of which I am proud 
to be a member, in which all matters 
pertaining to the business of the 
works are fully considered ; and I 
have found many of the suggestions 


208 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

made at our meetings very helpful 
in conducting our business. A place 
of meeting was found very necessary, 
and so from surplus funds in our 
reserve we erected this building, with 
store-rooms underneath, from the 
rent of which a fair interest is real- 
ized on the investment. And in 
addition to our hall for holding our 
meetings, we have a library, reading- 
room, and bath-rooms connected, as 
you will see as we ascend the stair- 
way and go through the building. 
And, Mr. Duncan , aside from all money 
considerations, this investment has 
paid from a moral standpoint. The 
effect in this respect upon the men has 
been wonderful. It has given them a 
place of resort, kept them from evil 
associations, particularly the saloon, 
and everyone takes a special pride 
in the building.” 

As the two friends talked they 
walked through the rooms, viewing 
their various appointments. 


WHICH WAY, SIES, THE BETTER ? 209 

‘^This, you say, was built from 
surplus funds in your reserve. This 
fund was always in my mind the 
doubtful one in the scheme,” re- 
marked Mr. Duncan. 

Only twice have we had occasion 
to draw on this fund for extraordin- 
ary purposes, and as the surplus was 
for investment, we agreed that a part 
of it should be invested in the erection 
of this building. Of course, such 
reverses may come that it may be 
exhausted, but ^ sufficient unto the 
day is the evil thereof.’ Our profits 
have been so much in excess of the 
old slipshod methods that we have 
felt that we could risk this much for 
our betterment. The men are con- 
tented and happy ; strikes and lock- 
outs are things of the past. The 
shiftless, intemperate, and careless 
have been gradually weeded out by 
the changes of time, and I feel 
assured that, for Beldendale at least, 
unless there are some extraordinary 
14 


210 WHICH WAY, SIRS, THE BETTER ? 

reverses, there are in store years of 
prosperity. But let us return home, 
as it is now near the dinner hour.’' 

As they descended the broad stair- 
way, and stepped out upon the busy 
street, Mr. Duncan stopped a moment 
and looked about him in deep medita- 
tion ; then turning to John Belden, 
and clasping his hand, said : 

Truly, the Lord has made the 
wrath of man to praise him, and out 
of the deep waters of your affliction 
he has brought about this — the 
BETTER WAY.’’ 


THE END. 


2II 


New Castle, Pa., Aug. 11, 1894. 

J. M. Martin, Esq. : 

I herewith return the MS. of your fine story, 
“ Which Way, Sirs, the Better ? ” 

As a tale, permit me to say it is exceedingly 
well told ; it excites a deep interest at once and 
goes straight to the point without wearying 
with needless details and confusing circum- 
locution. In its main purpose it goes to the 
heart of one of the great issues of the times, 
and, it seems to me, proposes the only natural 
solution of this unnatural confiict between 
capital and labor. I say this after years of 
study given to the subject. I could wish that 
six million men now so vitally interested in 
this subject in our country might have the 
opportunity of reading it. It ought to be on 
every news-stand and railroad train at once. 

Very truly yours. 

Rev. I. A. Thayer, D. D., 
Pastor of the Disciple’s Church, New Castle. 


New Wilmington, Pa., Aug. 25, 1894. 

Every sincere effort made by the thoughtful 
and serious citizens of our beloved land to solve 
the social problems confronting us in these 
times is hailed with pleasure and gratification. 
These efforts may show themselves in different 


212 


ways, and are not impossible to any citizen in 
any rank or profession. We are not therefore 
surprised when capable and reputable men put 
in attractive and popular literary form their 
views in regard to the condition, methods, and 
prospects of our social and political system. 

This has been done, with sincerity of con- 
viction and clearness of expression, by J. M. 
Martin, Esq., of New Castle, Pa., in his book 
entitled “Which Way, Sirs, the Better? ” The 
underlying principle of his solution of our 
social troubles is correct — the Golden Rule. 
The presentation of this in this unpretentious 
form and with the attractiveness of literary 
style sustained throughout cannot fail to in- 
struct and entertain. 

J. M. Mealy, 

Pastor of Neshannock Presbyterian Church, 
New Wilmington, Pa. 


New Wilmington, Pa., Oct. 1, 1894. 

J. M. Martin, Esq. ; 

My dear Sir and Brother I return here- 
with the manuscript book, “ Which Way, Sirs, 
the Better ? ” which you were kind enough to 
lend me to read. I first submitted it to my 
daughter (a reader of many books), who ex- 
pressed herself as very much pleased with it. 


213 


I did this because I think that any book that 
interests her will be of interest to the average 
reader. I have just finished it myself. It has 
given me both pleasure and profit. 

I hope you will publish it, for the following 
reasons : In my opinion, it will sell ; that is, 
will have many readers. It is a very pleasing 
story, and will appeal to the class who read 
mainly for recreation, and who would reject a 
text-book on sight. It gives a very realistic 
description of the operation of a manufactur- 
ing plant, and of the “ conflict between capital 
and labor,” the lives of operatives, etc., strikes, 
and mobs. It treats both sides fairly, I think, 
and presents matters in a new and conservative 
light. This makes it of value to the general 
public. Above all, it presents very clearly the 
wrong way ; and this must be understood and 
realized before the better way can be inaugu- 
rated. 

I am in hearty sympathy with the book, and 
cordially endorse it. I believe “ The Better 
Way ” you present would be greatly in advance 
of present methods, and I cannot say that it 
would not be all that you claim for it, even by 
implication. And I feel that you have given 
the method, the first steps by which the blood- 
less revolution must be brought about. “The 
Better Way ” would restore confidence and 
harmony between capitalists and laborers, and 
open the way for a temperate examination of 


214 


further reforms. I most heartily wish you 
success in this venture. 

Sincerely your friend, 

C. M. Morse, 

Official Stenographer of the Mercer County 
Courts. 


New Castle, Pa., Oct. 11, 1894. 
Dear Mr. Martin ; 

I have read “ Which Way, Sirs, the Better?” 
with great interest and much profit. The nar- 
rative is true to life ; all the essential features 
of the prevalent social and industrial unrest 
are wrought into the picture ; the solution of 
these difficulties therein presented is practical, 
more, is in actual operation in many places, 
and a wide circulation of the little book through 
the instrumentality of the press must do im- 
mense good. All the avenues of trade ought 
to be strewn thick with it. I wish for it a 
wide and fruitful circulation. 

Fraternally yours, 

M. H. Calkins, 

Pastor Central Presbyterian Church. 


New Castle, Pa., Oct. 12, 1894. 

J. M. Martin, Esq., ,of New Castle, Pa., has 
written a book entitled “ Which Way, Sirs, the 


Better ? ” that we believe only awaits publica- 
tion to become popular. In reading this well 
written and attractive story of our times, one 
cannot help sympathizing in turn with the 
laborer and the capitalist. 

The fact, though not formulated in words, is 
well developed in the course of the story, that 
there exists antagonism, not between capital 
and labor, but between the few unscrupulous 
capitalists and unreasonable laborers. The 
difficulties in the solution of the labor problem 
are fairly presented, and one by one disappear, 
as gradually with skilful pen is pictured “The 
Better Way.” This book deserves a wide cir- 
culation. 

Respectfully, 

E. F. Edmonds, 
Pastor First M. E. Church. 




■r 4.^^:^^.: \'i ^Cif:,. 






